Class 12 – Page 19 – PSEB Solutions

PSEB 12th Class English Reading Comprehension Unseen Passages Type-I

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Bhagya

Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions English Reading Comprehension Unseen Passages Type-I Exercise Questions and Answers, Notes.

PSEB 12th Class English Reading Comprehension Unseen Passages Type-I

Comprehension means understanding. At the learners level comprehension is a fairly good exercise for ability enhancement and confidence building. It involves deriving or getting the meaning of reading material. It means the understanding of what is written or heard or spoken.

A passage -given for comprehension is a tool to test ability to understand it. In order to acquire efficiency in understanding a passage, practice supplemented by reading books written by eminent authors, acts like the benefits of comprehension in the real sense. You could be asked different types of questions in order to find out if your knowledge is sound. Some of these questions may be:

1. Multiple Choice Questions.
2. You should read the passage again slowly so as to know all the details.
3. Read the passage after reading all the questions.
4. Answer the question in a complete sentence.
5. Read the words in a group, not one by one.
6. Try to get the meaning of unknown or unfamiliar words.
7. Do not feel nervous if you do not know the meanings of one or two words. Sometimes two or three readings are quite helpful.
8. Revise your answer to correct mistakes.
9. Every passage embodies a viewpoint.
10. As far as possible, use your own words in answering one line questions. You should not try to lift the words of the passage.
11. You should try to create the impression that you are the master and you have thorough understanding of the passage given in the question paper.

Question No. 1 (a) in the question paper will be based on comprehension of an unseen passage.

One unseen passage with a variety of Objective Type Questions, including Multiple Choice questions and Short Answer Questions to test Comprehension, interpretation and inference. The length of this passage will be between 200-250 words. Six Multiple Choice type question and four Objective Type Questions (total 10 marks) shall be asked from this pasage.

Sample Paragraphs for Comprehension

Passage 1

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it. Your answers should be brief and to the point.

The great advantage of early rising is the good start that it gives us in our day’s work. The early riser has done a large amount before other men have got out of bed. In early morning this mind is fresh and there are few sounds or other distractions, so the work done at that time is generally well done. In many cases the early riser also finds some time to take exercise in the fresh morning air, and this exercise supplies him with a fund of energy that will last until the evening. By beginning so early, he has plenty of time to do thoroughly all his work being finished in good time, has a long interval of rest in the evening before the timely hour when he goes to bed. He goes to sleep several hours before midnight, at the time when sleep is most refreshing, and after a sound night’s rest, rises early next morning in good health and spirits for the labours of a new day.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
Choose one of the following as a suitable title for the passage:
(a) Advantages of Early Rising
(b) Early Rising versus Late Rising
(c) Disadvantages of Early Rising
(d) An Early Riser or An Early Bird
Answer:
(a) Advantages of Early Rising

Question 2.
Choose the correct meaning of the Word ‘Distraction:
(a) Destruction
(b) Disappointment
(c) State of being upset or disturbed
(d) Destinations
Answer:
(c) State of being upset or disturbed

Question 3.
Choose the correct answer:
The work done by an early riser is:
(a) Hurriedly done
(b) Well done
(c) Carelessly done
(d) Badly done
Answer:
(b) Well done

Question 4.
Select the correct statement:
(a) An early riser gets time to take exercise in the fresh morning air
(b) One gets no time for exercise
(c) The early riser does not take exercise
(d) He takes exercise in the evening.
Answer:
(a) An early riser gets time to take exercise in the fresh morning air

Question 5.
Pick the correct statement:
(a) The early riser gets time for rest in the morning.
(b) The early riser does not find time for rest in the evening.
(c) The early riser does not take rest in the evening.
(d) The early riser hates taking rest in the evening.
Answer:
(a) The early riser gets time for rest in the morning.

Question 6.
Choose the correct statement:
(a) The life of the early riser is far more conducive to health than that of the late riser.
(b) The life of the early riser is not conducive to health.
(c) The life style of the early riser is envied by others.
(d) The life of the early riser is marked by hurry, worry and stress.
Answer:
(a) The life of the early riser is far more conducive to health than that of the late riser.

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
What is the advantage of rising early ?
Answer:
Early rising gives a good start to the day’s work. The early riser is able to do a good deal of work while the others are still asleep.

Question 8.
Why is the work done in the early morning well done ?
Answer:
In the early hours of the morning, work is done in a very good way. The early morning time is free from noise. There is no disturbance of any kind.

Question 9.
What enables the early riser to go to bed at the proper time ?
Answer:
The mind of the riser is also quite fresh. By rising early, the early riser adds to his hours of work. He gets ample time to do full justice to each one of tasks or jobs assigned to him. He does not have to hurry over anything.

Question 10.
Why is the late riser unable to do his work properly ?
Answer:
The late riser gets fewer hours of work. He gets no rest during the day, no time for rest, no time for exercise in the evening and has to keep awake till late hours in order to finish his work. And still whatever work is done is done unsatisfactorily.

Passage 2

Read the following passage and answer the Questions that follow it. Your answers should be brief and to the point.

Penicillin is one of the most useful drugs invented by man. With its help, we can heal wounds caused by bacteria which cannot be otherwise healed. In the beginning very few people knew of this wonderful discovery on its uses. First the scientists and then the ministers of governments were interested in it. Since penicillin could save the wounded soldiers, it was helpful in war. So they decided to encourage the process of manufacture. Vast factories were set up for preparing it. Lives of hundreds and thousands of soldiers were saved with its help. Most people benefited from it. Penicillin when introduced into the streams of the human blood, acts as an aid to those parts which are always fighting the deadly germs. It does not have power over all kinds of bacteria. But certain kinds are destroyed by penicillin in the great majoriy of cases.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
Select the correct statement:
(a) Penicillin is not the most useful drugs invented by man.
(b) Penicillin is one of the most useful drugs invented by man.
(c) Penicillin has not been able to cure Corona virus.
(d) Vaccine for the Corona virus is still at the testing stage.
Answer:
(b) Penicillin is one of the most useful drugs invented by man.

Question 2.
Choose the correct statement:
(a) Penicillin could not save the wounded soldiers.
(b) Penicillin could save the soldiers.
(c) Penicillin could injure the soldiers.
(d) Penicillin could kill the soldiers.
Answer:
(b) Penicillin could save the soldiers.

Question 3.
Pick up those who were interested in the discovery of penicillin in the beginning.
(a) Teachers
(b) Ministers of governments
(c) doctors
(d) Scientists.
Answer:
(b) Ministers of governments

Question 4.
Penicillin was helpful in war to:
(a) Save wounded soldiers
(b) Save ordinary people
(c) Save healthy people
(d) Save children.
Answer:
(a) Save wounded soldiers

Question 5.
Just write how many of the people given below knew about the penicillin at the time of its discovery ?
(a) Very few people
(b) A few scientists
(c) Famous physicians
(d) Important world leaders.
Answer:
(a) Very few people

Question 6.
Choose the people who encouraged the process of manufacture.
(a) Factory owners
(b) Military men
(c) Scientists
(d) Ministers of governments.
Answer:
(c) Scientists

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
Why did scientists and ministers of governments encourage the process of manufacture ?
Answer:
Penicillin was useful for war because it saved the lives of soldiers. So the scientists and government ministers encouraged the process of manufacture.

Question 8.
Why were vast factories set up ?
Answer:
Vast factories were set up to prepare penicillin.

Question 9.
How did most people benefit from penicillin ?
Answer:
Most people benefited from penicillin because it saved the lives of many soldiers and people.

Question 10.
What kind of bacteria are destroyed by penicillin ?
Answer:
Certain kinds of bacteria are destroyed by penicillin in the great majority of cases.

Passage 3

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it. Your answers should be brief and to the point.

Platinum is pure, rare, eternal and versatile, it is a precious and special metal. It is pure, an expression of integrity, and a reflection of inner truth. Its purity endows it with a brilliant white lustre. This helps to reflect the true radiance of diamonds. Because it is generally 95% pure (18 karat gold is 75% pure), platinum jewellery does not fade on tarnish and keeps its looks for a lifetime. Platinum’s purity makes it hypoallergenic an ideal for those with sensitive skin.

It is rare, the coveted treasure of discerning individuals. There is very little platinum on this earth and it is found in very few places around the world. This exquisite metal is thirty times rarer than gold. In fact, it is estimated that if all the platinum in the .world were poured into one Olympic swimming pool, it would be scarcely deep enough to cover your ankles. Gold would fill more than three pools. Platinum’s rarity makes it exclusive and distinctive —a celebration of your individuality.

Platinum jewellery is the perfect choice for a lifetime of everyday^ wear. Its density and weight make it more durable than other jewellery metals. It does not wear away and holds precious stones firmly and securely. Like all precious metals, platinum scratches. However the scratch on a platinum piece is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost. So, even though wearing it each and every day may leave an impression on the surface. It remains what it was—a symbol for all thing eternal.

In addition to its strength and density, plantinum has another remarkable quality-pliability. It is so pliable, that just one gram of the metal can be drawn to produce a fine wire over one mile (almost 2 km) long. This quality has enabled jewellers to create some amazing versatile platinum mesh accessories, which could not be fashioned from other precious metals. It is also in demand in other fields-it is used in industry, most notably in catalytic converters. It also plays an important role in medicine. It is not affected by the oxidising reaction of blood, has excellent conductivity, and is compatible with living tissues. Because of these properties, platinum is used for pacemakers. At present, more than 50,000 people are living healthily on pacemakers. Platinum is a life-saving metal for these people.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
Choose two of the correct qualities of platinum as referred to in the passage.
(a) Versatile
(b) Rare
(c) Transient
(d) Crude-looking.
Answer:
(a) Versatile

Question 2.
Platinum can be described as:
(a) A gold metal
(b) A silver grey precious metal
(c) An iron metal
(d) A type of diamond.
Answer:
(b) A silver grey precious metal

Question 3.
Choose the correct statement:
(a) Platinum has a reflection of inner truth.
(b) The platinum jewellery’s looks fade very soon.
(c) Platinum jewellery retains its looks for a lifetime.
(d) Platinums rarity makes it exclusive and distinctive.
Answer:
(a) Platinum has a reflection of inner truth.

Question 4.
Select the correct statement:
(a) Platinum is the coveted treasure of discerning individuals.
(b) There is a big store of platinum on this earth.
(c) Platinum is found in many places round the world.
(d) All the platinum would fill one Olympic swimming pool.
Answer:
(a) Platinum is the coveted treasure of discerning individuals.

Question 5.
Select the correct statement:
(a) Plantinum jewellery is a poor choice for everyday wear.
(b) The weight of the platinum jewellery makes it less durable than other jewellery metals.
(c) Platinum jewellery does not wear away and holds precious stones firmly.
(d) Platinum jewellery is a short-lived thing.
Answer:
(c) Platinum jewellery does not wear away and holds precious stones firmly.

Question 6.
Because of its remarkable pliability, one gram of platinum can be drawn to produce a fine wire of one of the given lengths.
(a) One mile
(b) Half a mile
(c) Two miles
(d) Two km.
Answer:
(a) One mile

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
What are the uses of platinum ?
Answer:
The brilliant white lustre enables it to reflect the true radiance of diamonds.

Question 8.
How is platinum a distinctive mark of one’s individuality ?
Answer:
The unusual quality of platinum makes it a distinctive mark of ones individuality.

Question 9.
How does platinum save people with heart ailments ?
Answer:
Platinun is used in making pace-makers for heart patients.

Question 10.
Give in simple English the meanings of the following words:
Eternal, integrity.
Answer:
everlasting, honesty/truth.

Passage 4

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it. Your answers should be brief and to the point.

Do birds know how to come back home after a long flight ? Bird scientists known as ornithologists, say that birds know exactly where they are and where their nests are. Even the young ones can fly hundreds of nautical miles without losing their way. How do they do it ? God has given them a tremendous sense of direction; possibly they have a compass of sorts in their brain. Every year, we see birds from North India who fly to the South. In India we have several bird sanctuaries where birds from both parts of the globe come, spend a few months and return when the climatic conditions in their homeland are more favourable. When it is winter in the northern hemisphere, it is summer in the southern hemisphere. The birds which cannot stand the cold climate fly to the warmer regions. They are called migratory birds. They can fly non-stop up to twenty hours in sky in one stretch and cover a few hundred miles in one stop. The migratory birds always fly in groups.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
Choose one of the correct words which is closer to the subject matter of the passage :
(a) Orthopaedist
(b) Ornithologist
(c) Orthographies
(d) Orthodontist.
Answer:
(b) Ornithologist

Question 2.
Choose some of the terms which are used by sailors of the navy and naval ships the author has used in the passage :
(a) Nautical mile
(b) Compass
(c) Hemisphere
(d) Regions.
Answer:
(a) Nautical mile

Question 3.
Choose the correct statement:
(a) It is difficult to say that birds know how to come back home after a long flight.
(b) We can say for sure that birds come back home after a long flight.
(c) Birds cannot come back to their nests after a long flight.
(d) It is impossible for the birds to get back home.
Answer:
(b) We can say for sure that birds come back home after a long flight.

Question 4.
Nautical mile is:
(a) Sea mile used by ships and sailors.
(b) Sea mile used by birds.
(c) Sea mile used by scientists.
(d) Distance covered by birds.
Answer:
(a) Sea mile used by ships and sailors.

Question 5.
A statute mile is:
(a) Used in water
(b) Used on land
(c) Used in air
(d) Used by scientists.
Answer:
(b) Used on land

Question 6.
Choose the correct statements :
(a) Young birds fly hundreds of miles.
(b) Young birds have some magnetic power.
(c) Some birds lose their way.
(d) Birds have a kind of compass in their brain.
Answer:
(a) Young birds fly hundreds of miles.

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
State the query that has been raised at the opening of the passage.
Answer:
The query is Do birds know how to come back home after a long flight ?

Question 8.
What is a sanctuary ?
Answer:
Sanctuary is an area where wild animals and birds are protected.

Question 9.
What is a migratory bird ?
Answer:
Migratory birds move from their homelands during summer and winter seasons.

Question 10.
In what form do migratory birds fly ?
Answer:
They fly in groups.

Passage 5

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it. Your answers should be brief and to the point.

Health and hygiene go hand in hand. Health refers to a state of sound mind and physically fit body, free from any form of weakness, disorder or ailment. Hygiene refers to the good practices that prevent diseases and lead to good health through cleanliness, proper sewage disposal, balanced and nutritious food, regular exercise, proper sleep, pure and fresh supply of safe drinking water, The proverb that ‘health is wealth’ is truly said of all things in the world. Health is the most valuable thing that one can possess.

Money is undoubtedly a prized possession but can it provide pleasure to a ruined health, an unhealthy man? As body and mind are closely related, the mind can never be sound cheerful without sound health. An unhealthy man may have intelligence, merit and wealth, but he cannot put them to use and reap their benefits. We must therefore adopt proper hygienic measures to preserve and maintain good health. Too much of work or exercise, eating and drinking are injurious to health. A regulated life coupled with clear and pure mind makes life worthliving.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
Choose the correct statement:
(a) Health and Hygiene go hand in hand.
(b) Health and Hygiene go separately.
(c) Health and Hygiene never go together.
(d) Health and Hygience rarely go together.
Answer:
(a) Health and Hygiene go hand in hand.

Question 2.
Choose the correct statement:
(a) Health refers to a state of sound mind and physically fit body.
(b) Health stands for physical and mental wellness.
(c) Health refers to physically fit with minor mental ailments.
(d) Health means excellent physical fitness and partially weak mental condition.
Answer:
(b) Health stands for physical and mental wellness.

Question 3.
Choose the correct statement
(a) Health stands for physical and mental wellness.
(b) Health means a fat and robust body.
(c) We must not adopt proper hygienic measures to preserve and maintain good health.
(d) Too much of work or exercise, eating and drinking are not injurious to health.
Answer:
(a) Health stands for physical and mental wellness.

Question 4.
Choose the correct statement:
(a) Health is wealth is truly said of all things in the world.
(b) Money is a prized possession.
(c) Money can provide pleasure to a ruined health.
(d) The human mind can be cheerful without good health.
Answer:
(a) Health is wealth is truly said of all things in the world.

Question 5.
Choose some of the practices that can lead to good health :
(a) Smoking
(b) Drinking wine
(c) Regulated life
(d) Gambling.
Answer:
(b) Drinking wine

Question 6.
Choose some of the following things which can keep us in good health :
(a) Eating opium
(b) Gambling
(c) Abundant wealth
(d) Regular exercise.
Answer:
(c) Abundant wealth

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
What is skewed distribution of water ?
Answer:
Skewed distribution of water is unfair, some localities get preferential treatment; others are denied even the bare minimum.

Question 8.
What advice does the author give to a person brushing his teeth with the water tap open ?
Answer:
He advises him to turn off the tap and avoid the wastage. Some needy person could fill his empty bucket.

Question 9.
How is water pollution caused ?
Answer:
Pollution is caused by water released from several industries, by pollutants in the water bodies, filth and garbage thrown in the water.

Question 10.
Explain the following statement from the passage:
We take water so much for granted but we cannot live without it.
Answer:
We take certain things casually. Water is one such thing. Water is easily available to us. But when it becomes scarce, we get troubled. We cannot live without water. Water is the elixir of life.

Passage 7

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it. Your answers should be brief and to the point.

Pollution, the simple visible kind of pollution, is now worldwide. When Apollo 8, took photographs of the earth’s surface, it revealed the most serious smog and polluted air over Osaka and Tokyo in Japan. Along this 31 tons of dirt a mount fell on every square kilometre, compared with a mere 17 tons in New York. Coastal vessels collide regularly because they cannot see each others navigation lights. Traffic policemen go back to the police station after four hours on duty and breathe pure oxygen from cyclinders, to re-oxygenate their carbon monoxide loaded-blood.

In cafes and shopping centres coin-in-slot machines give oxygen to shoppers who feel themselves about to collapse. In schools, the children wear face masks while they do their lessons on smog in warning days.

The existence of environmental pollution has recently gained recognition as a major problem but pollution is only part of the story. It is not that we load the environment with gases, acids, metals and assorted poisons which comprise a damage to health. It is rather that we alter the environment every possible way. We dump heat into it, and dust particles; we fell forests and pave over fields; we destroy one species of animal and cultivate another; we make noises and dump trash. There is a limit to how much of this treatment it can take.

If we dump sewage into a stream, on a small scale, the stream dissolves it and purifies it. Ten miles downstream the water is pure again. But we dump large quantities of sewage, we end by killing the purifying bacteria and then the stream has lost its power to purify. It can no longer deal even with the small quantity of sewage which it once accepted without difficulty. The system has broken down. For this overwhelming kind of pollution we need a new term. I call it super-pollution.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
Choose the various ways in which we alter environment.
(a) Gases
(b) Acids and assorted poisons
(c) Heat
(d) Water.
Answer:
(a) Gases

Question 2.
Super Pollution is one of the following:
(a) Absence of pollution
(b) Total clearing of pollution
(c) Overwhelming pollution
(d) Nauseating pollution.
Answer:
(c) Overwhelming pollution

Question 3.
Choose two or three of the under-mentioned things which are harmful to health:
(a) Gases
(b) Acids
(c) Metals
(d) Assorted poisons.
Answer:
(b) Acids

Question 4.
Which of the following two activities do not damage the environment ?
(a) Felling the trees
(b) Sea navigation
(c) Garbage- throwing in water
(d) Emission of gases.
Answer:
(c) Garbage- throwing in water

Question 5.
Choose the correct meaning of sewage:
(a) Cloth sewn by a sewing machine.
(b) Waste matter carried away in sewers.
(c) Throwing garbage in streams.
(d) Polluting water resources.
Answer:
(b) Waste matter carried away in sewers.

Question 6.
Traffic policemen go back to the police station after four hours on duty and breath pure:
(a) Carbondioxide
(b) Oxygen
(c) Methane
(d) Hydrogen.
Answer:
(b) Oxygen

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
Give a definition of pollution in simple English.
Answer:
Pollution may be defined as the process of making air, water and soil dirty.

Question 8.
As mentioned by the author of the passage, why do policemen breathe pure oxygen from cylinders ?
Answer:
Policemen breathe pure oxygen from cylinders, to re-oxygenate their carbon monoxide loaded-blood.

Question 9.
How do collapsing shoppers get oxygen from cylinders ?
Answer:
Collapsing shoppers get oxygen from cylinders by coin-in-slot machines.

Question 10.
What do school children wear on their faces while doing their lessons on smog in warning days ?
Answer:
In schools, the children wear face masks while they do their lessons on smog in warning days.

Passage 8

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it. Your answers should be brief and to the point.

The robot soldier is coming. The Pentagon predicts that the robots will be a major fighting force in the American military in less than a decade, beating and killing enemies in combat. Robots are a crucial part of the army’s effort to rebuild itself as a twenty-first century fighting force and a dollar 127 billion project called Future Combat Systems is the biggest military contact in American history.

The military plans to invest tens of billions of dollars in automated armed forces. The cost of that transformation will help drive the Defence Department’s budget up almost 20 per cent from a requested 419.3 billion dollars in 2010, excluding the cost of war. The annual cost of buying new weapons is scheduled to rise 50 percent from 578 billion to 5118.6 billions. Military planners say that robot soldiers will think, see and react increasingly like humans. In the beginning, they will be remote controlled, looking and acting like deadly toy trucks. As the technology develops, they may take many shapes. And as their intelligence grows, so will their autonomy.

But even supporters like Robert Finklestein of Robotic Technology in Potomac M.D., are telling the Pentagon that it.could take until 2035 to develop a Robot that looks, thinks and fights like a soldier with a laptop. “The Pentagons goal is there”, he said, “but the path is not totally clear.” Already however hundred robots are scouring caves in Afghanistan, and serving as armed sentries at American Weapons depots.
By April, an armed version of the bomb disposal robot will be in Baghdad, capable of firing 1000 rounds a minute. Though controlled by a soldier with a laptop, the robot will be the first thinking machine of its kind to take up a frontline infantry position, ready to kill enemies.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
The passage opens by stating that the robot soldier is coming. Choose the correct date or year when it will come:
(a) In a decade
(b) In two decades
(c) 2035
(d) Not clear.
Answer:
(c) 2035

Question 2.
Choose the correct option:
The cost of the innovation robot soldiers will:
(a) Shoot up
(b) Decline
(c) Marginally decrease
(d) Be unbearable.
Answer:
(a) Shoot up

Question 3.
Choose the correct option:
The path about robotic soldiering is:
(a) Not very clear
(b) It may not materialise
(c) Very hard
(d) Very tempting.
Answer:
(a) Not very clear

Question 4.
A robot is a machine controlled by:
(a) Computer
(b) Human beings
(c) Skilled men
(d) Scientists.
Answer:
(a) Computer

Question 5.
Say whether the following facts mentioned about the robot soldier are correct:
(a) Looks
(b) Thinks
(c) Fights
(d) does other activities like a soldier.
Answer:
(d) does other activities like a soldier.

Question 6.
The Pentagon predicts that the robots will be a major fighting force in the American military :
(a) In less than two decades
(b) In less than a decade
(c) In less than ten decades
(d) Within a year.
Answer:
(b) In less than a decade

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
Can you identify Pentagon ?
Answer:
Pentagon is the U.S. Defence Department.

Question 8.
What is the prediction of the Pentagon ?
Answer:
It is a prophecy of the Pentagon that the robot soldier will be a reality in 2035.

Question 9.
What is the importance of robots in the army’s efforts ?
Answer:
It is believed that robot soldiers will think, see and react increasingly like human beings.

Question 10.
Do you think that robot soldier is a reality ?
Answer:
It is not very clear. It is difficult to see it in the domain of reality.

Passage 9

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it. Your answers should be brief and to the point.

Viruses are notorious villains. They cause serious human diseases like AIDS, polio and influenza. Oxford Dictionary defines virus as a living thing, too small to be seen without a microscope. It causes infectious diseases in people, animals and plants. During this year (2020), the world is in the grip of the Corona Virus. A virus can lead to system crisis and data loss in computers. China generated virus Corona and has made the world order topsy-turvy. So far we do not see the end to Corona virus. No vaccine seems to come up by November or December.

We wonder if some of the power-losers are hit by another virus of nightmarish dreams of negativity, disaster, eternal doom. One nanotechnology researcher Angela Belcher is working with viruses, proteins and yeast offers hope for new ground bringing solutions to the worlds energy problems. It holds the prospect of using nanotechnology in a variety of ways, ranging from improving the efficiency of production, storage and transmission of energy overcoming many of the obstacles to a hydrage based transportation system based on fuel cell powered cars and trucks.

Nanotechnology entails the measurement, prediction and construction of materials on the scale of atoms and molecules. Nanometre, is one billionth of a metre and nanotechnology typically deals with particles and structure larger than nanometre, but smaller than 100 nanometres. To put this into perspective the width of a human hair is approximately 80,000 nanometres. It is estimated that 2-6 trillion dollars in manufactured goods will incorporate nanotech, or about 15 percent of total global output in 2014.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
Choose the appropriate reasons to prove why viruses are notorious.
(a) They are widely known to be villains.
(b) They are responsible for causing human diseases like AIDS, polio and some others.
(c) They can cause virus among power losers.
(d) They can lead to system crisis and data loss in computers.
Answer:
(a) They are widely known to be villains.

Question 2.
Choose the elements that go to make the definition of a virus.
(a) A virus is a living thing.
(b) It is too small.
(c) It can be seen with the naked eye.
(d) It can be seen with a microscope.
Answer:
(a) A virus is a living thing.

Question 3.
Angela Balcher is a researcher in one of the following:
(a) Psychology
(b) Biology
(c) Philosophy
(d) Nanotechnology.
Answer:
(d) Nanotechnology.

Question 4.
Nanotechnology entails the:
(a) measurements
(b) prediction of materials
(c) rare things
(d) very costly things.
Answer:
(b) prediction of materials

Question 5.
Choose the correct measurement in the following:
(a) A nanometre is one billionth of a metre
(b) One tenth of a metre
(c) One hundredth of a metre
(d) One thousandth of a metre.
Answer:
(a) A nanometre is one billionth of a metre

Question 6.
Choose the correct measurement of a human hair:
(a) approximately 80,000 nanometres
(b) 50,000 nanometres
(c) 8000 nanometres
(d) 18,000 nanometres.
Answer:
(a) approximately 80,000 nanometres

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
What is the unique characteristic of viruses ?
Answer:
Viruses are very harmful for man in various fields.

Question 8.
How is nanotechnology defined ?
Answer:
It is going to bring about a revolution in the future. It will bring change in medical care, communication and food. It will solve energy problems.

Question 9.
What example is given for the concept of nanometre ?
Answer:
A nanometre is one billionth of a metre.

Question 10.
Give in simple English the meanings of the following:
Replicate, entails, notorious, inexpensive.
Answer:
make something again, involves, having a bad nature, cheap.

Passage 10

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it. Be brief and to the point.

If you are not in the grip of avarice, you will choose a trade or profession that appeals to you as the means of self-expression and social service, even if you cannot earn much money by it. Your daily duty is not mere money,’making drudgery; it is your contribution to social progress and the path of personal development. How sad must be the lot of a man or woman who must do uncongenial work simply for the sake of more money ? I know a younger professor who loved literature passionately and taught it admirably; but his salary was small, and he became a lawyer in order to secure a larger income.

I tell you that man was guilty of a crime, and he will not be happy as a lawyer, although he may be a little more comfortable, a little better fed, dressed and lodged. A musician who is born a violinist can never be personally happy or socially useful as a prosperous merchant or stock-broker, as he will miss the violin all the time. Avarice puts round men in square jobs and square men in round jobs. At present, many persons in all classes, rich and poor are unhapp^ and restless because their daily work is not interesting. It does not provide an outlet for the creative impulse and the insistent urge of personality. Therefore, don’t ask in youth, “How can I earn the biggest salary ?” Ask rather, “How can I be truly happy and do most good to society ?” Then you may have less money, but you will have more of life and joy.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
Choose one of the following words which are the synonyms of Avarice’.
(a) Greed
(b) Wealth
(c) Covetousness
(d) Richness.
Answer:
(a) Greed

Question 2.
Choose the antonym of Avarice:
(a) Miserliness
(b) Grandeur
(c) Penury
(d) Unselfishness.
Answer:
(d) Unselfishness.

Question 3.
Why are most of the people unhappy at present ?
(a) Because their daily work is not interesting.
(b) Because their daily work is tough.
(c) Because their daily work is laborious.
(d) Because their daily work is time-consuming.
Answer:
(a) Because their daily work is not interesting.

Question 4.
Name the parts of speech as which of the following words have been used in the unseen passage given for comprehension.
(a) Caprice
(b) Trade
(c) Passionately
(d) Daily.
Answer:
(c) Passionately

Question 5.
The advice of the writer to the youth is:
(a) To find ways to earn money.
(b) To work hard to earn money.
(c) To work according to one’s capacity.
(d) To study hard to get good job.
Answer:
(a) To find ways to earn money.

Question 6.
A violinist can never be happy as a prosperous merchant because:
(a) He will miss the violin all the time.
(b) He will not earn enough money.
(c) He will not get sufficient time to enjoy his life.
(d) He will be bored by his profession.
Answer:
(a) He will miss the violin all the time.

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
Make adjective from Avarice.
Answer:
Avaricious.

Question 8.
When will a violinist be unhappy ?
Answer:
The violinist will always be unhappy because he will not be able to play on the violin by being busy in business.

Question 9.
Who are the misplaced persons according to the writer ?
Answer:
Misplaced persons are those who put themselves in such situations to earn more at the cost of their own interests and personality.

Question 10.
What is the advice of the writer to the youth ?
Answer:
The writer wants the young people to find ways to earn money.

Passage 11

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it. Be brief and to the point.

Social media has impacted the world in many ways. Millions of people are using Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all over the world. Such websites have enabled us to connect with friends, families and acquaintances. These have also become the best tools, to be aware of the latest buzz in every field. Children have to be trained to use media very carefully and judiciously. It is the responsibility of the teachers to train the students in making use of the social media in a responsible way.

Facebook started by Mark Zuker Berg is the most used social media tool. Its business depends on persuading people into sharing their personal experiences with public or their known people. Posting pictures or uploading status has become an important part of their daily routine. No one is immune to its addictive effect. Periodically looking at their phones for any updates has become a norm for people. Users must be made aware of the fact that sharing personal details and photos can be misued by criminals or anti-social elements.

One must understand that every post on Facebook or such sites is not always backed by facts or truth. One must not make friends with unknown persons. Time and effort spent on social media can be used productively. Some people use media to spread religious fanaticism or hatred. Social media should be used to help connect with people not to disconnect or disintegrate from mainstream. It should be used to bring harmony and love only.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
Name at least three websites which are used by social media all over the world.
(a) Facebook
(b) Instagram
(c) Computer
(d) Twitter.
Answer:
(a) Facebook
(b) Instagram
(d) Twitter.

Question 2.
Choose the utility of the websites of Social Media :
(a) Social media has impacted the world in many ways.
(b) They enable the users to connect and communicate with friends and families.
(c) They are the best tools to keep oneself abreast of or with the latest buzz in the world.
(d) They are so convenient that they need to be used very judiciously.
Answer:
(a) Social media has impacted the world in many ways.
(b) They enable the users to connect and communicate with friends and families.
(c) They are the best tools to keep oneself abreast of or with the latest buzz in the world.
(d) They are so convenient that they need to be used very judiciously.

Question 3.
Social media has impacted the world in many ways such as :
(a) Facebook
(b) Twitter
(c) Instagram
(d) Whatsapp.
Answer:
(a) Facebook
(b) Twitter
(c) Instagram
(d) Whatsapp.

Question 4.
The Media of Facebook is proved very popular by:
(a) The way to connect and communicate with friends
(b) Families
(c) To keep oneself aware of the latest buzz in every field
(d) Very useful for social media users.
Answer:
(a) The way to connect and communicate with friends
(b) Families
(c) To keep oneself aware of the latest buzz in every field
(d) Very useful for social media users.

Question 5.
Choose the advantages and disadvantages of social media from the following points:
(a) It has additive effect.
(b) It has become a norm for people to use the facebook.
(c) One must not take friends with unknown persons.
(d) Some people will use social media for religious fanaticism or hatred.
Answer:
Advantages (a) It has additive effect.
Disadvantages (c) One must not take friends with unknown persons.

Question 6.
Who started the Facebook ?
(a) Alexandar
(b) Columbus
(c) Mark Zuker Berg
(d) Bill Gates.
Answer:
(c) Mark Zuker Berg

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
What is Twitter ?
Answer:
Twitter is an American micro blogging and social networking service on which users post and interact with messages known as tweets.

Question 8.
What is Instagram ?
Answer:
Instagram is an American photo and video sharing social networking service. Posts can be shared publicly pre-approved followers.

Question 9.
Which is the most used tool of social media?
Answer:
Facebook is the most used tool of social media.

Question 10.
What has become a norm for the people?
Answer:
Periodically looking at their phones for any updates has become a norm for the people.

Passage 12

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow it. Your answers should be brief and to the point.

English has become by default global language. Someone who speaks English can travel all over the world without any inconvenience or difficulty. English is also the language of business and science. Scientists from all parts of the world are publishing their studies and papers in English and thus their research is benefiting most people around the globe. Almost all journal articles, conference papers and even human case studies are in English. Therefore, these merits validate the importance of the English language.

Hundreds of students migrate abroad for higher studies. English is the most preferred language in which they continue their studies. Most of the countries have set English language bench marks for different educational courses. To attain these language levels, students have to appear in different, internationally accepted, language testing systems. The use of English as the global language in the fields such as business, university studies, and research has improved the communication and exchange of information.

Trade transactions from different countries have been empowered by English settled as the primary language in this sector. People in certain countries find English learning to be extremely difficult because of the extreme differences in written expression. For example, each symbol is a word in the Chinese language. So learning English may be a very difficult task for people from now. English speaking countries may have to learn English as a second language in addition to their native language. And some of these are valid excuses for not learning English because someone who speaks English has a clear advantage over someone who does not speak English.

Multiple Choice Questions:

Question 1.
Pick a suitable heading for the passage.
(a) Importance of English Language
(b) English as a Global Language
(c) Difficulty in Learning English Language
(d) The Need of a Second Language.
Answer:
(a) Importance of English Language
(b) English as a Global Language

Question 2.
Choose the reasons by which English has become a global language.
(a) By default
(b) By travellers who speak English
(c) It is the language of business and science
(d) Language spoken by students going abroad for studies.
Answer:
(a) By default
(b) By travellers who speak English
(c) It is the language of business and science
(d) Language spoken by students going abroad for studies.

Question 3.
Choose some of the indications of importance of English.
(a) Most preferred language of tourists
(b) Language of Science & Research
(c) Global Communication
(d) Trade Communication.
Answer:
(a) Most preferred language of tourists
(b) Language of Science & Research
(c) Global Communication
(d) Trade Communication.

Question 4.
Choose some of the challenges in learning English.
(a) Difference of expression in different languages
(b) Additional language along with native language
(c) Challenges in English learning
(d) English users are advantaged over non-English speakers.
Answer:
(a) Difference of expression in different languages
(b) Additional language along with native language
(c) Challenges in English learning
(d) English users are advantaged over non-English speakers.

Question 5.
What is the language used for journal writing ?
(a) Hindi
(b) Spanish
(c) English
(d) Chinese.
Answer:
(c) English

Question 6.
English is also the language of:
(a) Students all over the world
(b) Non-english speaking peopli
(c) Business and science
(d) Trade.
Answer:
(a) Students all over the world
(c) Business and science
(d) Trade.

Other Objective Type Questions:

Question 7.
What is the preferred language for studies for foreign students ?
Answer:
English is the preferred language.

Question 8.
How have trade transactions been empowered in different lands ?
Answer:
Trade transactions from different lands have been empowered by Shakespearean English.

Question 9.
How is each symbol represented in the Chinese language ?
Answer:
Each symbol is a word in the Chinese language.

Question 10.
What is the scope of English language ?
Answer:
English is used for higher studies in other countries.

PSEB 12th Class English Composition Explaining Newspaper Headlines

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Bhagya

Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions English Composition Explaining Newspaper Headlines Exercise Questions and Answers, Notes.

PSEB 12th Class English Composition Explaining Newspaper Headlines

Some of the newspaper headlines are quite attractive. One likes to read them to know what has happened. Some newspaper headlines are obscure as the journalists have a penchant for writing bombastic words in order to create an impression on the reading public. Such headings fail to impress people. Headlines must be in easy to understand and lucid language. George Orwell criticises journalists for writing big and stereotyped expressions and phrases which do not have meanings relevant to situations. Simplicity should be the hallmark of newspaper headlines. At the XII (10+2) stage, our students are capable of understanding simple words that can be easily understood.

Newspaper headlines should be simple to the extent that students can rewrite them easily. They are required to explain the headlines in their own language by using the simple present form of an appropriate verb. We are giving below a few headlines taken from newspapers.

Verbs that can be used are given in a box. You are to explain the headings in capitals by choosing an appropriate verb given in the box.

Explanation should be written in capital letters. Choose a relevant/appropriate verb from the box and use it for your explanation.

Exercise 1

Explain in simple English the following newspaper headlines:

1. JNU STUDENTS ROUGHED UP AND DETAINED BY POLICE.
2. INSPECT ALL POLLUTION CHECKING CENTRES IN CAPITAL, SAYS SC.
3. GOLD BARS WORTH RUPEES 32 LAKH SEIZED FROM IGI PASSENGER.
4. DAY TEMP FALLS TO 2-YEAR LOW OF 14.02°C AT AMRITSAR.
5. SHUN TERROR IF YOU WANT TALKS WITH INDIA, PM MODI TELLS ISLAMABAD.
6. STRAY DOGS ALSO HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE, SAYS SUPREME COURT. THEY COULD BE ELIMINATED IF THEY BECAME A MENACE TO SOCIETY.
7. CJI SETS UP PANEL TO FILL UP TRIAL JUDGE VACANCIES.
8. SENIOR IAS. OFFICER SACKED FOR NON-PERFORMANCE.
9. MAN HELD FOR WIFE’S DEATH, ENS.
10. 52- YEAR OLD ARRESTED FOR MOLESTING DU STUDENT: TIMES NEWS SERVICE.
11. OPERATION UNDERWAY BY CHANDIGARH ADMINISTRATION TO BOOST THE WATER LEVEL OF THE NEARLY DRIED UP SUKHANA.
Answer:
1. STUDENTS OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY MARCHING FROM ONE POINT TO THE OTHER WERE ALLEGEDLY ROUGHED UP AND DETAINED BY THE POLICE.
2. TERMING THE PROBLEM OF POLLUTION IN THE CITY VERY SERIOUS,
THE SUPEREME COURT ORDERED INSPECTION OF ALL POLLUTION CHECKING CENTRES.
3. A TEAM OF CUSTOMS OFFICIALS SEIZED 1200 GRAMS OF GOLD BARS WORTH RS. 32 LAKH FROM A PASSENGER AT IGI AIRPORT.
4. RESIDENTS OF AMRITSAR FELT A FALL IN TEMPERATURE TO 2-YEAR LOW OF 14.2° CENTIGRADE.
5. PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI TELLS THE GOVERNMENT OF PAKISTAN TO SHUN TERRORISM IF YOU WANT PEACE TALKS WITH INDIA.
6. THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA HELD THAT STRAY DOGS HAVE A RIGHT TO LIVE. IT ALSO SAID THAT THEY COULD BE ELIMINATED IF THEY BECAME A MENACE TO SOCIETY.
7. CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA ANNOUNCED THAT HE HAD SET UP A JUDGES5 COMMITTEE (PANEL) FOR FILLING UP VACANCIES OF JUDGES.
8. ACCORDING TO A PRESS TRUST OF INDIA REPORT, A SENIOR I.A.S. OFFICER HAS BEEN SACKED FROM SERVICE BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DUE TO NON-PERFORMANCE.
9. ACCORDING TO A REPORT OF THE EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE, A 25- YEAR OLD WOMAN DIED UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES IN SULTANWIND, AMRITSAR. HER HUSBAND WAS ARRESTED BASED ON HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW’S ALLEGATION OF DOWRY.
10. ACCORDING TO NEWS PUBLISHED BY TIMES NEW SERVICE, DELHI POLICE HAVE ARRRESTED A 52-YEAR OLD MAN WHO WORKS AS A CLERK FOR MOLESTING A DU STUDENT.
11. AN EXTRAORDINARY OPERATION IS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY TO BOOST THE WATER LEVEL IN THE NEARLY DRIED UP SUKHANA, ACCORDING TO EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE.

Exercise 2

Explain in simple English the following newspaper headlines:

1. Stray cattle on rampage in Pathankot. The problem assumes dangerous proportions. (Tribune News Service)
2. Dense fog claims two lives on Moga^Baghapurana road. (Tribune News Service)
3. Delhi-Gurugram air shows presence of alarming levels of heavy metals like lead. (Tribune News Service)
4. Jammu-Delhi Duran to Express passengers robbed at knife point. (Tribune News Service)
5. Varsity staffer accused of sexual harrassment. (Tribune News Service)
6. Kartarpur corridor access mode undecided: Centre. (Tribune News Service(
7. De-addicted youth offers help to nab peddlers. Says to be aware in Ludhiana- Chandigarh where drugs are sold with impunity. (Tribune News Service)
8. Passengers will have to pay extra for baggage checking. (Tribune News Service)
9. Heroin worth 24 crore seized from an international narcotics syndicate. (Tribune News Service)

PSEB 12th Class English Precis Writing

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Bhagya

Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions English Precis Writing Exercise Questions and Answers, Notes.

PSEB 12th Class English Precis Writing

The word precis though much used in English is a French word. It means summary, a compendium, an abridgement, an abstract, a condensed statement, an epitome, etc. These words all mean the same thing at the bottom. When a student is asked to write a precis of a paragraph, or of a series of paragraphs, what he has to do is to pick out the important details and to omit all those which are unimportant.

All those facts or details which are related to the theme or subject-matter of the piece are important .while all others which merely illustrate, explain or elucidate these facts or details are unimportant.

The ability to write a precis is of great benefit to its possessor. In many walks of life, this ability is indispensable. As a member of the Lok Sabha eager to deliver a big speech in the house, as an advocate anxious to argue before a learned judge and as a businessman eager to know the facts and to avoid waste of valuable time, you require a precis of facts.

I. Five Rules for Guidance

1. The first step is to master the subject-matter of the passage of which a precis is to be made. For this, read the passage carefully so as to form some idea of its subject and contents. If one reading fails to give you the central point or the theme of the piece, read the extract a second time or even a third time in order to find the basic idea, or the chief purpose to elucidate which the writer began to write.

2. When you feel certain about the correct meaning of the piece, read it carefully once again. This time put down the key sentence which embodies the theme. Generally speaking, this sentence has to be constructed by the students. Mostly, it is not found in the original piece.

3. Now begin comparing each sentence of the original with the thematic sentence. Underline all these sentences or parts of the sentence having no bearing on it. Rewrite the piece after omitting the rejected parts but inserting dots instead. This is the skeleton or outline precis.

4. Now read the outline precis and try to substitute single words or phrases with fewer words, for expressions which can be contracted. Sometimes, it is possible to find a single word for a whole expression. This word should be inserted in place of that expression. Sometimes, it is possible to convert an adjective clause into a participle expression or an adjective phrase, or a noun clause into a noun phrase. This should also be done here.

5. Now you are ready to write the final draft. Remember that the final draft should be a connected account of the relevant details in your own words. A good precis is the expression within the prescribed limits of the salient facts of the original in the words of the writer of the precis.

Important Note. Revise your precis after you complete writing it out.

II. Characteristics of a Good Precis

1. A good precis is brief. Though brevity of expression is essential, such brevity should not be achieved at the cost of clarity of expression. The precis should not be so brief as to become ambiguous.

2. Lucidity of Expression. The language of the precis must be clear and unmistakable. Lucidity of expression is one mark of a good precis. Since the language of precis will be the writer’s for the most part, he must bear in mind that his words must mean nothing more or less than those of the author.

Note. Care must be taken to distinguish between the theme and the title. While the title indicates in a general way the contents of the piece, the theme is a complete statement of the fundamental idea to explain which the author began to write. It permeates the entire writing of the author. A theme is to a piece of writing as the soul is to the human body, making its influence felt in every part of the structure. Poems or essays may have the same title but their themes may vary. In fact, they do usually vary. Thus, Herrick and Wordsworth have both written a lyric entitled, “The Daffodils”, but their themes are different.

3. Uniformity. Uniformity is another very important quality of writing a precis. As a rule, the writer of a precis should not depart from the order of ideas of the original. He should keep his narrative in the same tense throughout. It is desirable to avoid the present tense or the direct quotation. Where the original contains concrete illustrations or specific examples, it is desirable to insert there the main purpose.

4. Subordination of the unimportant to . the important. Another thing essential in a good summary is what is called the correct perspective. The writer must be able to subordinate the unimportant to the important. He must get a correct view of the events he is reporting and must not give undue space to matter which is not so important. Eliminate the non-essential and incorporate the essential is a golden rule in precis making.

III. How to Write a Precis

The following hints should be borne in mind while making a precis of a given passage:
1. Read thoroughly the given passage to get at the central or general idea. Go on reading the passage till you understand it clearly.

2. Underline the main ideas in the passage according to the sequence of thought and note them down in a skeleton form.

3. Read only the underlined words this time and try to estimate their relative importance.

4. Re-arrange all these points in order of their importance.

5. Reconstruct in your own mind, the whole subject-matter of the passage in this new order.

6. Make in your own words a rough draft of these points as a continuous narrative, much smaller than the original and the words of your precis.

7. Check up the number of words of the original and the words of your precis.

8. Bring it near the requisite length by the addition or omission of the comparatively less important details. There should be nothing superfluous, redundant, perfunctory, irrelevant or non-essential in a precis. All repetition of ideas, all introductory remarks, illustrations, comparisons, examples, similes, metaphors, quotations and references should be avoided.

9. Conform to the prescribed length. If no instructions are given, the precis should be one-third of the original passage.

10. As far as possible a precis should be in your own words. Do not steal phrases and sentences from the original.

11. It should be brief, clear and concise. It must be a well-connected or organic whole. One idea should lead to the other and give an impression of unity and not of a series of unconnected sentences and ideas.

12. It must be complete and self-contained. It must be a faithful picture of the ideas contained in the original passage.

13. There should be no personal comments, additions or connections of facts. Do not * give your own views, whether you agree or disagree with the writer.

14. The precis must be, as a rule, written throughout in the Indirect speech ; Third person and Past Tense, unless the passage expresses a universal truth. So change the Direct manner of speech into Indirect manner of speech. Change the first person into the third person.

15. Don’t begin your precis with such words as the writer says or the author remarks.

16. You must give a suitable title or heading to your precis. Remember Two Marks are assigned to the Title in the Board Examination.

17. The opening sentence of a precis should be very expressive. It must clearly show what is to follow.

18. A precis should be thoroughly revised. It must be in simple English. There should be no ambiguities and obscurities. As far as possible a precis should not contain the vocabulary of the original. High flown or bombastic style should not be made use of. Mistakes of spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc. should be corrected.

The Title of a Precis

The questions in. the Board Examination assign separate marks to finding the title of the piece of which a precis is to be made. Care must be taken in choosing the title.

The title must be brief, comprehensive and relevant. As far as possible avoid inserting a proverb or a whole sentence as the title. It is always advisable to find out a phrase or an expression forming part of the thematic sentence, which will serve as the title. Bear in mind the important fact that a title suggests, in a general way, the nature of the contents of a piece.

Model Exercises (Solved)

Exercise 1

Self-control is at the root of all virtues. Let a man give the rein to his impulses and passions and from that moment he yields up his moral freedom. He is carried along the current of life and becomes a slave of his strongest desire for the time being. To be morally free-to be more than an animal-man must be able to resist the instinctive impulse, and this can be done only by the exercise of self-control. Thus it is this power which constitutes the real distinction between physical and moral life, and forms the primary basis of individual character. In the Bible, praise is given, not to the strong man who “taketh a city” but to the stronger man who “ruleth his own spirit”. This stronger man is he who, by discipline, exercises a control over his thoughts, his speech and his acts. Nine-tenths of the vicious desires that degrade society, and when indulged, swell into the crimes that disgrace it, would sink into insignificance before the advance of valiant self-discipline, self-respect and self-control. By the watchful exercise of those virtues, purity of heart and mind becomes habitual and the character is built up in chastity, virtue and temperance. (201 Words)

Hints:
Primary – chief or main. Vicious – evil. Valiant – bold. Chastity – purity. Temperance – moderation.

PRECIS:
Self-control is the source of all virtues. If a person does not have self-control, he becomes a slave of evil desires and degrades himself. To be morally free, a person has to exercise self-control. This quality is the real basis of character. A person having self¬control is more respected than those who rule over a city. Self-control develops into self-discipline and strong character. Self-control is most important.

Words of the Original Passage = 201
Words of the Precis = 67
Heading : Self-control

Exercise 2

The test of a great book is whether we want to read it only once or more than once. Any really great book we want to read the second time even more than we wanted to read it the first time, and every additional time that we read it, we find new meanings and new beauties in it. A book that a person of education and good taste does not care to read more than once is very probably not worth much. But we cannot consider the judgement of a single individual infallible.

The opinion that makes a book great must be the opinion of many. For even the greatest critics are apt to have certain dullness, certain inappreciation. Carlyle, for example, could not endure Browning. Browning could not endure some of the greatest English poets. A man must be many-sided to utter a trustworthy estimate of many books. We may doubt the judgement of the single critic at a time. But there is no doubt possible in regard to the judgement of generations. (175 Words)

Hints:
Additional – more. Infallible – one who is not liable to m ike mistake. Apt – likely. Inappreciation no praise. Endure – tolerate.

PRECIS:
A great book is that which a person wants to read more than once, because a great book reveals new beauties in its every reading. But the judgement of an individual can’t be relied upon since the greatest critic can lose his proper sense of appreciation. Only the judgement of generations is the real test of a great book.

Words of the Original Passage = 175
Words of the Precis = 59
Heading : Test of a Great Book

Exercise 3

Of the duty of the artist in the coming years much has been said, indeed, rather too much. He is always being preached at and being told that he ought to preach. Naturally, he will be interested in his surroundings and wants to comment on them ; he will express the feelings of the people and reflect their attitude and he will, if generously minded, desire to champion the oppressed and reform abuses. But to say that his fundamental duty is to these things is a mistake. His fundamental duty is to do his job.

He must first and foremost, write properly, paint properly, express himself as an individual. When he has done that, his message, if he has one, is sure to show through. I am all against him starting off with a message ; if he does that, he is not an artist, he is a pamphleteer. His message, however, deeply he feels it, must come out incidentally when he is actually writing or painting or whatever it is. His fundamental feeling ought to be: “Let me make something, not let me preach.” His primary duty is not to society, but to himself. (195 Words)

Hints:
Generously – liberally. Champion – support. Oppressed – downtrodden; weak and suffering people. Fundamental – primary or main. Pamphleteer – one who writes for propaganda. Incidentally – by the way.

PRECIS:
People believe that the duty of the artist of the future is to give moral lessons, preach his ideas and reform social evils. But this is the duty of a pamphleteer and not of an artist. His primary duty is not to society but to himself. He should work thoroughly well. He should not start with a message. His message should come out only indirectly.

Words of the Original Passage = 195
Words of the Precis = 65
Heading : Duty of the Artist

Exercise 4

If today I have a quarrel with another man, I do not get beaten merely because I am physically weaker and he can knock me down. I go to law, and the law will decide as fairly as it can between the two of us. Thus in disputes between man and man right has taken the place of might. Moreover, the law protects me from robbery and violence. Nobody may come and break into my house, steal my goods, or run off with my children. Of course, there are burglars, but they are very rare and the law punishes them whenever it catches them.

It is difficult for us to realize how much this safety means. Without safety those higher activities of mankind which make up civilization could not go on. The inventor could not invent, the scientist find out or the artist make beautiful things. Hence order and safety, although they are not themselves civilization, are things without which civilization would be impossible. They are as necessary to our civilization as the air we breathe is to us ; and we have grown so used to them that we do not notice them any more than we notice the air. (200 Words)

Hints:
Might – brute force. Burglars – thieves.

PRECIS:
Order and safety are the greatest blessings of modern civilization. Law today protects the weak from being beaten by the strong. Right has taken the place of might. Law protects the peaceful citizens. Law and order have made it possible for man to develop civilization. Though law, order and safety are not themselves civilization, yet it would be impossible without them. They are as essential as the air.

Words of the Original Passage = 200
Words of the Precis = 67
Heading : Importance of Law and Order

Exercise 5

English is a language of international commerce it is the language of diplomacy, and it contains many a rich literary treasure, it gives us an introduction to western thought and culture. For a few of us, therefore, knowledge of English is necessary. They can carry on the departments of national commerce and international thought and science. That would be the legitimate use of English whereas today English has usurped the dearest place in our hearts and dethroned our mother-tongues.

It is wrong and unnatural due to our unequal relations with Englishmen. The highest development of the Indian mind must be possible without a knowledge of English. It is doing violence to the manhood and specially the womanhood of India to encourage our boys and girls to think that an entry into the best society is impossible without a knowledge of English. It is too humiliating a thought to be bearable. To get rid of the infatuation for English is one of the essentials of Swaraj. (178 Words)

Hints:
Diplomacy – political relations of one country with another. Legitimate – legal; genuine; right; proper. Usurped – seized; snatched; possessed. Humiliating – insulting; degrading. Infatuation – foolish love; too much fondness.

PRECIS:
A knowledge of English is necessary. It is a language of national and international trade and diplomacy. It opens the doors of literature, western thought, culture and science. But it should not be given undue importance. India can make progress without English. It is really shameful and foolish to consider a knowledge of English as the highest sign of culture.

Words of the Original Passage = 178
Words of the Precis = 59
Heading : The Place of English

Exercise 6

Self-reliance is the pilgrim’s best staff, the workers best tool. It is the master key that unlocks all the difficulties of life. ‘Help yourself and heaven will help you’ is a maxim which receives daily confirmation. He who begins with crutches will generally end with crutches. Help from within always strengthens but help from without invariably enfeebles the recipient. It is not in the sheltered garden, but in the rugged Alpine cliff, where the storms beat most violently, that the toughest plants are reared. It is not by the use of corks, bladders and life-buoys that you can best learn to swim but plunging courageously into the waves and buffeting them. To wait until some charitable man passes by, – to stand with arms folded sighing for a helping hand, – is not the part of any manly mind.

The habit of depending upon others should be vigorously resisted, since it tends to weaken the intellectual faculties and paralyse the judgement. The struggle against adverse circumstances has, on the contrary, a bracing and strengthening effect like that of the pure mountain air on the enfeebled frame. This is a lesson which, nowadays, is not taught in colleges. To us it seems the vice of modern systems of education that they lay down too many ‘royal roads’ to knowledge. Those impediments which formerly compelled the student to think and labour for himself are now most carefully removed and he glides so smoothly along the well-beaten highway that he pauses not to heed the flowers on either side. (255 Words)

Hints:
Self-reliance – self-dependence. Unbcks – removes. Maxim – saying or proverb. Confirmation – to establish an act firmly. Crutches – staff for a lame person -here it means dependence. Invariably – constantly. Enfeebles – weakens. Rugged Alpine cliff – atmosphere full of (roughly Alpine rocks) difficulties. Violently – terribly. Toughest – strongest, hardest. Reared – grown. Life-buoys – floating cases used for swimming. Buffeting – fighting. Arms folded – idly; doing nothing. Vigorously – strongly. Resisted – opposed. Paralyse – to lose power of moving and feeling. Adverse – unfavourable. Bracing – healthy. Enfeebled frame – weak body. Impediments – obstacles. Well-beaten highway – common path.

PRECIS:
Depending on one’s own effort is a source of success to all. It solves man’s problems. The evil habit of depending on others weakens man’s mental powers. It must be fought against. Man must fight against unfavourable circumstances. It will not have a depressing but a healthy effect on man’s life. But it is really sad that the habit of self-reliance is not taught in the colleges today. The modern system of education does not encourage se1freliance among the students who only depend upon help books.

Words of the Original Passage = 255
Words of the Precis = 85
Heading: Sdf-reliance

Exercise 7

The spirit of the age is in favour of equality, though practice denies it almost everywhere. We have got rid of slavery in the narrow sense of the word, that a man can be the property of another. But a new slavery, in some ways worse than the old, has taken its place all over the world. In the name of individual freedom, political and economic systems exploit human beings and treat them as commodities. And again, though an individual cannot be the property of another, a country and a nation can still be the property of another nation, and thus group slavery is tolerated. Racialism also is a distinguishing feature, of our time, and we have not only master nations but also master races. (127 Words)

Hints:
Exploit – take undue advantage of; suck the blood of; cruel to. Commodities – lifeless things. Racialism – belief in superior and inferior races of mankind.

PRECIS:
There ¡s equality in theory, but not in practice. Old slavery has been replaced by a new slavery in the form of exploitation of human beings by treating them as commodities. Colonialism and racialism are some manifestations of the new slavery.

Words of the Original Passage = 127
Words of the Precis = 43
Heading : Modern Slavery or Slavery in a New Form

Exercise 8

Speech is a great blessing, but it can also be a great curse, for, while it helps us to make our intentions and desires known to our fellows, it can also, if we use it carelessly, make our attitude completely misunderstood. A slip of the tongue, the use of an unusual or an ambiguous word, and so on, may create an enemy where we had hoped to win a friend. Again, different classes of people use different vocabularies, and the ordinary speech of an

educated man may strike an uneducated listener as showing pride; unwittingly we may use a word which bears a different meaning for our listener from what it does to men. of our own class. Thus, speech is not a gift to use lightly without thought, but one which demands careful handling. Only a fool will express himself alike to all kinds and conditions of men. (114 Words)

Hints:
Attitude – outlook. Unusual – uncommon. Ambiguous – not clear. Handling – treatment.

PRECIS :
Speech is a valuable gift, but if used carelessly, may cause misunderstanding. The careless use of words may create an enemy. Since different classes use different words, we must use speech carefully to avoid being misunderstood.

Words of the Original Passage = 114
Words of the Precis = 38
Heading : Use of Speech

Exercise 9

Of all the amusements which can possibly be imagined for a hard-working man, after his toil, there is nothing like reading an entertaining book. It calls for no bodily exercise of which he has had enough. It relieves his home of its dullness. It transports him to a livelier and more interesting scene, and while he enjoys himself there, he may forget the evils of the present moment. Nay, it accompanies him to his day’s next work, and if the book he has been reading be anything above the very idlest and lightest, gives him something to think of, besides the drudgery of his everyday occupation. If I were to pray for a taste which should stand me in good stead under every variety of circumstances and to be a source of happiness and cheerfulness through life, it would be a taste for reading. Give a man this taste, and the means of gratifying it, and you can hardly fail to make a % man happy unless indeed, you put into his hands a most perverse selection of books. (180 Words)

Hints:
Amusements – entertainment. Toil – hard work. Bodily – physically. Transports— carries. Drudgery – routine. Gratifying – satisfying. Perverse – improper.

PRECIS:
Reading a good book is the best source of entertainment after the day’s hard work. It requires no physical exertion. It removes the dullness of home and makes the reader forget the evils of the present. It often provides interesting subjects to think about. Taste for reading is the greatest and most unfailing source of happiness under all circumstances.

Words of the Original Passage = 180
Words of the Precis = 60
Heading : Pleasures of Reading

Exercise 10

People moan about poverty as a great evil, and it seems to be an accepted belief that if people had plenty of money, they would be happy and useful and get more out of life. As a rule, there is more genuine satisfaction in life in the humble cottages of the poor than in the lordly mansions of the rich. I always pity the sons and daughters of the rich who are attended by servants and have governesses at a little age. It is because I know how street, happy and pure the home of honest poverty is, how free from perplexing care and from social envies and jealousies the members of the family are that I sympathise with the rich man’s boy and congratulate the poor man’s son. It is for these reasons that from the ranks of the poor so many strong, eminent, self-reliant men have always sprung. If you will read the list of the immortals who were not born to die, you will find that most of them had the advantage of being cradled, nursed and reared in the hard school of poverty. (180 Words)

Hints:
Moan – complain. Genuine – true. Mansions – palaces. Perplexing – confusing. Self-reliant – self-dependant. Eminent – famous. Immortals – deathless.

PRECIS:
Mostly people regard poverty as an evil. They consider money necessary for a happy and useful life. But generally, a poor man is more satisfied with life than a rich person is. Rich persons who have servants deserve sympathy. The greatest men who have won undying fame in the world have been nursed in the lap of poverty.

Words of the Original Passage = 180
Words of the Precis = 59
Heading : Poverty as a Blessing

Exercise 11

One of the defects of our civilization is that it does not know what to do with its knowledge. Science, as we have seen, has given us powers fit for the gods, yet we use them like small children. For example, we do not know how to manage our machines. Machines were made to be man’s servants, yet he has grown so dependent on them that they are in a fair way to become his masters. Men spend most of their lives looking after and waiting upon machines. And the machines are very stern masters.

They must be fed with coal, and given petrol to drink, and oil to wash with, and they must be kept at the right temperature. And if they do not get their meals when they expect them, they grow sulky and refuse to work, burst with rage and blow up, and spread ruin and destruction all around them. So we have to wait upon them very attentively and do all that we can to keep them in good temper. Already we find it difficult either to work or play without the machines and a time may come when they will rule us altogether, just as we rule the animals. (207 Words)

Hints:
Waiting upon – serving. Stern – severe, harsh or cruel. Sulky – angry or ill- tempered. Rage – anger. Good temper – good mood.

PRECIS:
Civilization has, undoubtedly, blessed us with immense knowledge. But we don’t know what to do with it. Science has given us immense power but we fail to make proper use of it. Machines intended to be our servants have turned out to be our masters. But we have become utterly helpless without them. If we do not look after them properly, they may go wrong or collapse, causing destruction.

Words of the Original Passage = 207
Words of the Precis = 69
Heading : Man and Machines

Exercise 12

Speaking in public is as difficult as singing or acting, and it ought to have quite as careful rehearsals, even more careful, because one of the aims of the public speaker is to appear entirely spontaneous. The great speakers of Greece and Rome used to prepare an important speech as carefully as an opera star nowadays studies a new role. After writing it out a dozen times, they would deliver it before a few trusted friends, critics and tutors, repeating it again and again until they knew every syllable and gesture, and yet the whole thing appeared not a highly elaborated product of art, but a genuine outpouring of real and overwhelming emotion. That is why we still study the speeches of men like Cicero a single page of them contains the result of more concentrated thought, active experience, intricate psychological knowledge, and training in language than modern speakers can command in whole lifetime. (175 Words)

Hints:
Spontaneous – natural; effortless. Gesture – movement. Elaborated – highly finished. Concentrated – deep. Intricate – difficult.

PRECIS:
Public speaking is as difficult as singing and acting. It needs careful rehearsals. A public speaker has to appear natural. Classical speakers used to master their speeches in private. Yet they appeared to be natural, full of emotions. They contained more deep thought and training in language than modern speakers can command.

Words of the Original Passage = 175
Words of the Precis = 55
Heading : Public Speaking

Exercise 13

People once thought that the great barrier to human progress was illiteracy, the widespread inability to read. When once everybody could read the written or printed word, all, it was thought, would be well. Though people would still differ in attainment, owing to the differences in mental ability, the great majority would, at any rate, be able to read and understand the newspapers, and keep themselves properly informed of what was going on around them. Events have by no means justified this optimism.

The majority are able, it is true, to read written or printed characters. But reading, it has been discovered, has a variety of meanings. To some people it means little more than the ability to pronounce aloud the printed word ; to others it means an ability to gain merely a general impression of what they read. Even students daily engaged in the study of books often develop a superficial ability to read rapidly and with apparent understanding, what they subsequently prove to have understood very imperfectly. (170 Words)

Hints:
Barrier – obstacle; hindrance. Mental ability – intelligence. Characters – letters. Variety – number. Pronounce – speak. Superficial – shallow. Apparent – seeming. Subsequently – as a result of that. Imperfectly – wrongly.

PRECIS:
Once illiteracy was considered an obstacle to human progress. It was supposed that more literacy would increase human progress. But it has not proved so. Today, majority of people can read and write but their knowledge is limited. Reading has varied meanings. Some people read things quickly without full understanding. Others consider it as mere loud reading.

Words of the Original Passage =170
Words of the Precis = 57
Heading : Reading and Human Progress

Exercises For Practice

Make a precis of the following passages and give a suitable title:

(1) Youth is not a time of life, it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, vigour, of deep springs of life. Youth means the predominance¹ of courage over timidity², of adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of sixty more than in a boy of twenty. Nobody grows old merely by the number of years. We grow old by deserting³ our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair⁴ these bow the heart⁵ and turn the spirit back to dust⁶. You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt. (131 Words)

Word-notes:
1. excess. 2. lack of courage. 3. giving up. 4. lack of hope. 5. dishearten. 6. make you dead in spirit.

(2) We have political independence. But it is not to be regarded as giving us complete freedom. There are ever so many other things which require to be fulfilled, if this first step is to be regarded as a preparation for the liberation¹ of this great land. If we wish to follow up political revolution by a social and economic one, our universities must send out batches² of scientists, technicians, engineers, agriculturists etc. These are essential for changing the face of our country, the economic character of our society. But we should not believe that science and technology alone are enough. There are other countries, much advanced countries in the world, which have achieved marvellous³ progress in scientific and technological side, but yet they are torn by strife⁴ and they are unable to bring about peace, safety and security of their own people. It only shows that other qualities are also necessary besides those developed by science and technology. (157 Words)

Word-notes:
1. freedom. 2. groups. 3. wonderful. 4 unrest.

(3) Work and play are the complements1 of each other; in fact each is incomplete without the other. “All work and no play makes jack a dull boy”, is true to the core; but the contrary “If all working days had been playing holidays, to play would have been as difficult as to work” holds equally good². Hence a suitable admixture³, a due proportion of both is what should be aimed at in a school, for there is no denying the fact that play is no less important a part in the accomplishment of a child’s education than work. On the other hand, children acquire greater zest for work if approach to it is made in playway, for play is the outlet⁴ – nature’s provision for the over-flow of children’s superfluous⁵ energy. Apart from its value as a great relaxation⁶ and diversional⁷ agency⁸, for it relieves children of the stress and strain⁹ of their work, play is a great conservator¹⁰ of mental, moral and physical energy. It is also a great antidote¹¹ of vice. These are the important results of the achievements on which a school should set its heard¹².

Wind-notes:
1. completing parts. 2. is true. 3. mixing together. 4. channel for taking out. 5. extra. 6. providing rest. 7. change from work. 8. means. 9. exertion and pressure. 10. preserver. 11. check against 12. aspire for.

(4) A proper consideration of the value of time will inspire habits of punctuality. Punctuality is the politeness of kings, the duty of the gentlemen and the necessity of the men of business. Nothing begets confidence in a man sooner than the practice of this virtue¹, and nothing shakes confidence sooner than the want² of it. He who holds to his appointment and does not keep you waiting for him shows that he has regard for your time as well as his own. Thus punctuality is one of the ways in which we show our personal respect for those whom we are called upon³ to meet in the business of life. It is also conscientiousness⁴ in a measure, for an appointment is a contract expressed⁵ or implied⁶ and he who does not keep it is guilty of breaking faith as well as dishonesdy using other people’s time. We naturally come to the conclusion that the person who is careless about business is not a person to be trusted with the transaction of matters of importance. When Washington’s Secretary excused himself for lateness of his attendance and laid the blame on his watch, his master quietly said, “Then you must get another watch or I another Secretary.”

Word-notes:
1. quality. 2. lack. 3. required. 4. moral sense. 5. clearly stated. 6 suggested.

(5) Fortune has often been blamed for her blindness, but fortune is not so blind as men are. Those who look into practical life will find that fortune is usually on the side of the industrious, as the winds and the waves are on the side of the best navigator. In the pursuit of even the highest branches of human enquiry the common qualities are found the most useful such as common sense, attention, application and perseverance. Genius may not be necessary, though even genius of the highest sort does not disdain the use of these ordinary qualities. Some have even defined genius to be only common sense intensified. A distinguished teacher and president of a college spoke of it as the power of making efforts. John Foster held it to be power of lighting one’s own fire. Buffon said of genius, “It is patience.”

Word-notes:
Industrious – hard-working. Navigators – trained sailors who are given the assignment of steering the direction of the ship. Application – hard work. Perseverance – steadfastness in doing something. Genius – extraordinary capacity. Disdain – hatred. Intensified – made more deep or intense.

(6) That science has become one of the most powerful factors in modern life is generally an accepted and indeed obvious fact. The proper role of the scientist himself is, however, a point on which there is no general agreement. On the one hand are those die-hards¹ who, ignoring the changed circumstances of the outside world, contend that outside the laboratory the personal influence of the scientist should be no more than that of any other citizen. On the other hand, are extremists who advocate a state verging on² a technocracy³ in which scientists would have special privileges and a large measure of control. Those who tend towards the latter view are much more vociferous⁴¹ than their more conservative and much more numerous colleagues, with the unfortunate result that there is a widespread impression that scientists generally share these views and wish to claim a far larger share in the control of world affairs than they possess at present. It is, therefore, timely to attempt an assessment⁵ of the proper status⁶ of the scientist in modern society.

Word-notes:
1. obstinate people. 2. nearly. 3. rule of the technicians. 4. vocal. 5. estimate. 6. position.

(7) In India, at any rate, we must aim at equality. That does not and cannot mean that everybody is physically or intellectually or spiritually equal or can be made so. But it does mean equal opportunities for all and no political, economic or social barrier¹ in the way of any individual or group. It means a faith in humanity and a belief that there is no race or group that cannot advance and make good in its own way, given the chance to do so. It means a realization of the fact that the backwardness or degradation² of any group is not due to inherent failings³ in it, but principally due to lack of opportunities and long suppression by other groups. It should mean an understanding of the modern world wherein real progress and advance, whether national or international, have become very much a joint affair and backward groups pull back others. Therefore, not only must equal opportunities be given to all but special opportunities for educational, economic and cultural growth must be given to backward groups so as to enable them to catch up to those who are ahead of them. Any such attempt to open the doors of opportunity to all in India will release enormous energy and ability and transform⁴ the country with amazing⁵ speed.

Word-notes:
1. obstacle. 2. disgrace. 3. inborn defects. 4. change. 5. surprising.

(8) The value, of university for educational purposes lies not principally¹ in its examination, not even wholly in its teaching, however admirable that teaching may be. It lies and must lie in the collision of minds² between student and student. We learn at all times of life, but perhaps most when we are young, as much from our contemporaries³ as from anybody else and when we are young we learn from our contemporaries what no professor, however eminent, can teach us. Therefore, it is that while I admire the lives admirable, beyond any power of mine to express my admiration, the lives of those solitary students who under great difficulties come upto Edinburgh from some other University, and without intercourse with their fellows doggedly and perseveringly⁴ pursue their studies – very often under most serious pressure of home difficulties – their course however admirable is not the course which can give to them those great advantages which are possessed by those whose lot is more happily cast than theirs. I, therefore, associate myself entirely with what Lord Rosebery said about Athletics. I do not think that the athletic movement has been overdone. I believe, on the contrary, that the intercourse between studies which it has given birth, and the good fellowship which it has secured, are of infinite educational value.

Word-notes:
1. mainly. 2. meeting of minds. 3. living in the same age. 4. persistently.

(9) The highest expression in the life of a nation must be intellectual eminence and its power of enriching the world by advancing the frontiers¹ of knowledge. When a nation has lost this power, when it merely receives and has nothing to give, then its healthy life is over and sinks into a degenerate² existence which is purely parasitic³. The status of great university cannot be secured by any artificial means, nor can any character assure it. Its world status is only to be won by the intrinsic⁴ value of great contribution made by its scholars. To be organic and vital, our national university must stand primarily⁵ for self¬expression and winning for India her true place among the federation of nations.

Word-notes:
1. boundaries. 2. declined. 3. depending upon others. 4. real. 5. mainly.

From Board Papers

Passage 1

The background of Indian dance is infinitely rich and as varied as the land itself, yet with the same underlying unity which binds the people of the country together. The dances of India, whether folk or classical, are an eloquent expression of an ancient civilisation, whose timeless wisdom continues to evoke the passionate search of man for conscious identity with God. Folk and tribal dances of India are of innumerable types. But they all express its people’s natural gaiety, sense of abandon and rhythm. The origin of classical dances is from the Hindu temples. It was in the temples that they were first conceived and nourished; it was also in the temples that they attained their full stature. While it is true that dances were also performed in courts, on festive occasions etc. yet the impulse that gave them birth was religious.

Precis:
The Indian dance is rich and varied. Folk or classical dances are a fine expression of an old civilisation. Through dance man tries for identity with God. The origin of classical dances is the Hindu temple. They attained full growth here. Dances performed on happy occasions were religious. (48 words)

Heading : Indian Dance

Passage 2

One of the most alarming trends of the present century has been the rising population, specially in the under-developed countries. Advancement in medicine has decreased the infant mortality rate and increased the life span. This rise in population is increasing the pressure on land, steadily reducing its capacity to supply not just food, but fuel wood for cooking and foliage for cattle. The search for agricultural land and fuel wood leads in its own ways to destruction of forests which further leads to soil erosion, a fall in water level and finally conversion of fertile land into desert.

Besides, it has led to congestion in cities, rise in crime, inflation, etc. It is expected that world population will reach eleven billion by the year 2050, and could result in a crisis causing vast poverty and misery specially in the Third World. If we do not come to grip with this problem, then in the decades to come we will really have an acute problem of feeding the people, providing them shelter and security.

Precis:
Population is increasing rapidly in the under-developed countries because of decline in infant mortality and increase in life span. Pressure on land has led to destruction of forests, soil erosion, fall in water level and desertification. This has led to crowding in cities, crime and inflation. World population will soon touch eleven billion. Increasing population should be contained to reduce poverty.

Heading : Increasing Population and Poverty.

Passage 3

Girls as well as boys spend much of their precious time on fashion. Boys are seen dressed in expensive suits of the latest cut. They are skilled judges in the matter of the dress and eye one another’s clothes with keen interest. Each tries to excel others in the beauty and design in his clothes. Critical remarks are freely made regarding classmates, whose clothes do not fit them properly. Envious glances are cast upon a student, whose clothes are striking in design and perfect in tailoring. Everyone aims at wearing his clothes to the best advantage and at producing a favourable impression upon his classmates. Students who are expensively dressed claim special privileges in the school or college because they think that their costly clothes are an additional qualification. Students do not pay attention to class lectures. The teachers are helpless in this matter, which results in an increase in the number of flops.

Precis:
Boys and girls spend time and money on wearing fashionable clothes. Badly dressed boys and girls are often criticised. Fashionably dressed boys and girls are envied. All students try to create good impression on other classmates by wearing fashionable clothes. Expensively dressed students claim special privileges and consider fashionable clothes an additional qualification. Dressy boys and girls often fail in examinations.

Heading : Fashions and Flops

Passage 4

People generally cherish a false notion about beauty and handsomeness. Almost everybody wishes to look handsome or beautiful. Red cheeks, rosy lips, bright eyes, curly hair and an attractive figure are the dreams of young people. Almost every young man and woman pines to look like his or her favourite film star. Nobody cares to bear in mind that the physical beauty is subject to decay and death. On the other hand, spiritual beauty is eternal in nature. Spiritual beauty means the sound and solid qualities of character.

Handsome is he whose actions are just and virtuous. Handsome deeds, noble thoughts and strength of character know no decay. Man dies physically, but his virtue survives. Socrates, Aristotle, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Mahatma Gandhi and Lai Bahadur Shastri had no attraction in their physical appearances, but the handsomeness in their conduct, character and deeds will always continue to attract and inspire. Handsome indeed is the man, whose deeds are handsome. (158 Words)

Precis:
All young men and women desire to look attractive like their favourite film stars. But physical beauty is short-lived while spiritual beauty means solid qualities of character. Handsome is he whose actions are just and virtuous. The noble deeds done by great men live after them. Great men are remembered for their noble deeds and not for their handsome or ugly appearances.

Heading : Handsomeness lies in Handsome Deeds

Passage 5

The soldier who holds the sword stands for the defence of the country. The writer who holds the pen signifies the powerful ideas. The conquests of the soldier are glamorous, but they are short-lived. His victories are over body and land only. The writer conquers not only body, but heart and soul also. The sword may kill a man, but cannot convert his heart. It is true to say that ideas rule the mind and mind rules the world. The victories of the mind are everlasting.

The names of great Commanders and Generals are soon forgotten, but Shakespeare, Wordsworth and Kali Dass will continue to conquer the mind and heart of man till eternity. Even the victories of the sword are immortalized by the pen. Who would know about Lord Rama in the absence of Valmiki’s pen ? The sword is powerful only during a war, but the pen wields its power in peace as well as in war. Thus the superiority of the pen to the sword cannot be contested. (170 Words)

Precis:
The soldier defends the country. The writer gives ideas to the world. The glamorous conquests of the soldier are short-lived. A writer’s words have a lasting appeal. Conquerors are soon forgotten but the words of great writers live for ever. The pen immortalises the victories of great soldiers. Valmiki has immortalised Lord Rama. The pen is powerful during peace and war.

Heading : The Pen is Mightier than the Sword

Passage 6

Although TV programmes have become the most popular source of recreation, reading books is the highest type of pleasure that a man can get before and after his everyday work. In fact, it is a source of everlasting joy. Books are our unfailing friends. Their reading is one of the best ways of passing our leisure time. We do not have to depend upon others for company. Books give us a great relief from boredom. They are the best companions even during journeys.

They express life in an interesting way. They transport us, in our imagination, thousands of kilometres away. We live not only in the present, but in the past and future also. In addition to being our best friends, books are our guides and philosophers. A lover of books lives in the company of great writers and poets of all the ages. He gets delight in prosperity and relief in times of misery. Thus he enriches his experience of life. (162 Words)

Precis:
Reading books gives greater pleasure than recreation by television. Books are man’s unfailing friends. They provide him everlasting joy. Books enable us to spend our time in the best possible way. They are our friends and philosophers in the present, past and future. A lover of books enjoys the company of masterminds. Books delight us in prosperity and relieve us in times of misery.

Heading : Pleasures of Reading Books

Passage 7

Beauty is a wonderful creation of God. It tempts man more quickly than even wealth. But for beauty, this world would have been a dull place. Human beauty and natural beauty are equally attractive. Unfortunately beauty is subject to decay and death. Whatever is beautiful today will perish tomorrow. Time reaps the rich harvest of beauty. None can escape its grip and sickle. Nothing in this world enjoys permanent beauty. A beautiful flower blooms only for a day or two.

A beautiful woman can’t retain her beauty for long. Beauty departs with the period of youth. However, it is only physical beauty which is short-lived. This beauty is skin-deep. But there is beauty of character also. It lends man, immortality. Therefore, man should not run after physical beauty. He should create in him the beauty of thought and action. Only this beauty has a permanent value.

Precis:
Beauty is a remarkable creation of God. It is more tempting than wealth. A world without beauty would be dull and uninteresting. Both human and natural beauty are ravaged by time. Beauty of character has a lasting value. Man should create in him beauty of thought and character.

Heading : The Value of Beauty of Character

Passage 8

Courage is a virtue. There can be no other virtue without courage. In other words, courage is the basis of all virtues. There are two types of courage-physical courage and moral courage. Physical courage can be taught, but moral courage has to be developed. Physical courage enables us to face physical attacks on our body. Moral courage prepares us to face the challenges of life boldly. Nobody can be great if he does not have courage. Only a man of courage can give resistance to evil. He calls a spade a spade and is not afraid of results. No difficulties can stand in the way of a man if he grapples with them courageously. The virtue of courage should be cultivated in children. Parents and teachers should teach them courage. They should not strike fear in their hearts about small matters. Those who have courage give it to others in times of crisis.

Precis:
Courage is the basis of all virtues. Courage is physical and moral. Physical 1 courage can be taught but moral courage needs to be developed. Physical attacks can be faced with physical courage. Moral courage enables us to face challenges boldly. Courage > makes one great. Courage should be cultivated in children.

Heading : Importance of Courage

Passage 9

Education is an important activity in society. It gives an opportunity to man to understand the world around him and his place in it. In ancient times man was completely at the mercy of nature which was a complete mystery to him. The dark forces of nature were beyond the comprehension of man and to console himself he had to depend upon the existence of supernatural powers and this led to the growth of religion and superstition. The invention of tools, domestication of animals and growth of agriculture led to organisation of society and alongwith this, developed social sciences.

Thus, in education we combine the study of natural laws with the laws governing the development of society. Knowledge and understanding come to us through the study of natural sciences like chemistry, physics and biology etc., and the social sciences like history, political science, etc. The acquisition, interlinking and transmission of this knowledge and understanding is the primary function of education. (160 words)

Precis:
Education enables man to understand the world. Previously man was at the mercy of nature. He depended upon the supernatural forces to understand nature. This made the way for religion and superstition. Then came the organisation of society and education. Education brings us knowledge and understanding when we study natural and social sciences. (59 words)

Heading : Education and Knowledge

Passage 10

Where machines have benefited mankind in so many ways, they have also proved to be harmful. The machine age made many people unemployed. Now there is no need for so many hands to do a task. Only one person is required to manipulate the machine. Thus it has led to unemployment. Machines have also led to degradation of our environment. The poisonous fumes and gases emitted by vehicles and industrial units have polluted the air we breathe and pose a threat to the health of the people.

In the light of all these grave dangers, it is imperative that man tries to make judicious use of machines. After all man had applied his mind to invent new things not to make his life miserable, but to make it more comfortable and better. Machines should serve mankind. Man should ensure that he does not allow them to destroy his environment and health and put the life of all living things in grave danger beyond a point of no return.

Precis:
Machines have proved both useful and harmful to man. Many people have become unemployed because of machines. Machines have damaged the environment. Air is polluted and man’s health is endangered. Man should make wise use of machines. Man invented machines to make his life comfortable. Machines should serve man for better health and environment.

Heading : Machines in Service of Man

Number of words in the Original Passage = 169
Number of words in the Precis = 56

Passage 11

The exploration of space has been one of the most exciting developments. Most spacecrafts which have been launched in the space in the last fifty years, since the time space age began, have transmitted vast amount of knowledge back to earth. It now does not seem so distant a reality or a difficult dream to realise that one day we shall be able to establish human colonies on other planets with our present techniques and resources. It is only the development and application of computers which has brought man closer to realising his dreams. Besides, satellites which are launched in space ate of immense use in communication. They have made it possible to obtain television linkage between distant countries and pleasing greatly television viewers all over the world by taking their favourite programmes or events of world significance right into their living rooms. Photographs from satellites have helped in the field of agriculture, geology and meterology. Weather satellites help to give advance warning of any such developments which may be dangerous to human life.

Precis:
Exploration of space is a very exciting development. Spacecrafts have given us very useful knowledge. Hopefully one day human colonies would be established on other planets. Computers have made this possible. Satellites in space are very useful in communication. They have made link between distant countries possible. Photographs from satellites have helped in several fields like agriculture, affecting human life.

Heading : Exploration of Space

Number of words in the Original Passage = 174
Number of words in the Precis = 58

Passage 12

One of the chief aims of education is to build the moral character of individuals and to teach them to live in society in a spirit of cooperation and brotherhood. Sports are a great help towards this goal of moral development. Every game is played according to certain rules which are recognised by all. Any departure from these rules means foul play. The decision of the referee is final. So games help to develop in players the habit of fair play, sportsmanship, honesty, teamspirit, punctuality, obedience and leadership. These qualities go a long way in making individuals self-disciplined. These habits learnt on the playground then extend to the wider sphere of life. Fair play is a noble quality when practised in political and social dealings. Spirit of sportsmanship teaches one to play game for the sake of playing and accepting defeat with a smile. It is not important whether you win or lose, what is important is how you play it.

Precis:
The main aim of education is to build moral character and enable individuals to live in a spirit of brotherhood. Sports help us in moral development. Games help players in having the spirit of fair play. Qualities learnt on the playground extend to the wider sphere of life. True sportsmen play without caring for victory or defeat.

Number of words in the Original Passage = 161
Number of words in the Precis = 54

Heading : Sports and Moral Development

Passage 13

Anger may sometimes be right and holy. Bad temper is always wrong. It is generally foolish too. A bad tempered person is always selfish. Let a selfish person have his own way and he will be very nice to you. But cross him in the smallest thing and he flies into a rage. Bad temper is due to lack of self-control. Even the best men feel vexed and cross sometimes but they control their feelings. They do not lose their temper. Bad-tempered people are the slaves of their feelings. They cannot control them. A bad-tempered man is an unhappy man. How can you be happy when every little thing makes you angry ? Bad temper grows into a habit if not checked. The cure for bad temper is to think less of oneself and more of others. Learn to control yourself. When angry, count twelve before you speak.

Precis:
A bad-tempered man is often wrong, foolish and selfish. He will be nice to others if he has his own way. He becomes angry when opposed. Best men often control their feelings and temper. A bad-tempered man is often unhappy. One gets rid of bad temper by thinking more of others.

Heading : Getting Rid of Bad Temper

Number of words in the Original Passage = 146
Number of words in the Precis = 49

Exercise 14

Obedience is the habit of doing what we are told to do. It is not easy to learn obedience but it is necessary. Children must obey their parents. Pupils must obey their teachers. Servants must obey their masters. Soldiers must obey their officers. Subjects must obey the government and all men must obey God. Why should children obey their parents ? The reason is that they are ignorant and need training. Similarly a servant must obey the master because he is paid to do what his master wants. Soldiers must obey their officers because an army is of no use without discipline. Subjects must obey their government because there would be no law and order if they did not. Obedience to God is the first law. If any man tells us to do wrong we must disobey, so that we may obey God. God’s law must come first.

Precis:
Obedience means doing what is necessary. Children, pupils, servants, soldiers, subjects and all men must obey parents, teachers, masters, officers and God respectively. Children need to be trained by parents. There would be total chaos without obedience and discipline at every stage of life. All must obey Gods law and disobey a wrong one.

Heading : Obedience and God’s Law

Number of words in the Original Passage = 148
Number of words in the Precis = 54

Exercise 15

The system of education in India today is devoid of any goal or ideal. It does not satisfy the aspirations of the students. The result is that there is frustration which in turn breeds indiscipline. There is so much of stress on examinations in these days that the student sets the passing of the examination as his only goal but after he passes the examination and goes to the wide world outside, he finds himself unequipped to meet the demands of new age. The best system of education is one which draws both on the present and the past. What we want today is a harmonious blending of the best from our heritage and the finest from modern science.

Precis:
The present system of education is without any goal. It does not meet the aspirations of the students. It is examination-ridden. It fails to prepare students for the demands of the wide world. The best education should combine the best from heritage and the finest from modern science.

Heading : The Best Education

Passage 16

No man can suddenly become great or famous. Long years of hard work and struggle are wanted from him to attain some heights. No man can reach the summit of a mountain without a long and laborious climb. No man can become great or achieve fame without much toil, labour and sacrifice. We are dazzled by the great heights of fame and glory reached by a man but often we forget the long years of toil and suffering spent by him in his pursuit. A student has to work patiently and industriously for years before he can be a great scholar. An actor passes through arduous series of monotonous practices before making any achievement. Often defeats, humiliations and insults lie behind the success of a great reformer, leader or preacher.

Precis:
Long years of hard labour enable one to win fame and glory in one’s field. Outstanding success of others impresses us. Students become scholars through hard labour and industry. A successful reformer or leader has to overcome several obstacles and frustrations.

Heading : No Pains, No Gains

Passage 17

Many men and women are so money-minded that they do not undertake any serious work that does not pay. They believe that it is foolish to exert themselves for such study and brain work as cannot be converted into cash. Hard work only for money, and then plenty of play and pleasure : this seems to be their rule of life. They value intellect only as the key to material prosperity and regard personal mental development as foolish fad. This miserable materialistic psychology is very deep-rooted in all classes of society. Rich and poor, all suffer from it. An old working woman complained to me of her son’s habit of occasionally buying some cheap books, and said, “He wastes his money on books. What good are they to him ? He is a carpenter, not a schoolmaster.”

Precis:
Most men and women are money-minded. They do serious work only for cash payment. Hard work for money is the motto of their lives. They regard intellect as the key to material prosperity. They dislike mental development. Money-minded people think that a carpenter has nothing to do with books.

Heading : Materialism and Intellect

PSEB 12th Class English Solutions Poem 8 On His Blindness

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Prasanna

Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions Poem 8 On His Blindness Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

PSEB Solutions for Class 12 English Poem 8 On His Blindness

1. When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days ; in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He, returning chide.

Word-Notes:
Consider-think. How…………. spent-how I have lost my eye-sight. Ere-before. Half my days-half of my life is spent. Dark world-for he has lost his eyesight. Wide-big. Talent-poetic gift. Milton refers to the story of the talents in the Bible. “A master on the eve of going out to some place gives talents (a sum of money) to his three servants who are expected to make proper use of them.

On his return he desires to know what they have done with their talents. The first two servants have increased their talents. The master is well pleased with them. But the master is angry when he learns that the third servant, who had received only one talent, had kept it hidden beneath the earth and had not increased it.

The master then condemns and punishes the third servant.” Here the master stands for God, the servants for men, and the talents for natural gifts. Milton compares himself to the third servant who receives only one talent and keeps it hidden. He thinks that he has not made the proper use of his gift of poetry. He fears lest he should be punished by God.

Word-Notes :
Which is death to hide–not making use of his poetic gift is like death … to the poet. Lodged-kept. Lodged useless—the poet cannot utilize his poetic gift due to his blindness. Bent-determined. Therewith—with the help of his poetic gift. MakerGod. Present-show. True account-full use of poetic gift. Lest ………….chide–that God may take the poet to task for not using His gift to serve Him.

Explanation. In these lines Milton expresses his sorrow on the loss of his eye-sight. The world becomes totally dark to him. He felt very helpless and restless. God had given him the gift of writing poetry. He felt sad because he was unable to make use of this gift. He wanted to write religious poetry in the service of God. He wanted to present a good account, of his activities lest God should scold him for remaining idle.

Milton is perhaps thinking of the parable of talents (coins). Once a master went on a long voyage. Before leaving, he gave a few talents, to his servants. When he came back he found that the third servant had not made any use of his talent. So the master rebuked him. Milton also fears that God, his master, would rebuke him for not using his talent of writing poetry. But it is not his fault. He is blind. So he is not able to make use of his talent.

इन पंक्तियों में Milton अपने अफसोस को व्यक्त करता है क्योंकि उसकी देखने की शक्ति खो गई है। दुनिया उसके लिए बिल्कुल अंधकारमयी हो गई है। वह बहुत बेबस और बेचैन हो गया। परमात्मा ने उसे कविता लिखने की प्रतिभा दी थी। वह उदास हो गया क्योंकि वह कविता लिखने के योग्य नहीं रह गया। वह परमात्मा की सेवा में धार्मिक कविता लिखना चाहता था।

वह अपनी सरगरमियों का अच्छा लेखा-जोखा देना चाहता था ताकि परमात्मा उसको बेकार रहने के लिए न कोसे। Milton शायद तोड़ों या सिक्कों की नीति कथा का जिकर कर रहा है। एक बार एक स्वामी लम्बी समुद्री यात्रा पर गया। जाने से पहले उसने अपने नौकरों को कुछ सिक्के दिये। जब वह वापस आया तो उसने देखा कि तीसरे नौकर ने सिक्के का प्रयोग नहीं किया था।

इसलिए स्वामी ने उसको कौसा| Milton को डर है कि कहीं परमात्मा उसे अपनी प्रतिभा (talent) को प्रयोग न करने के लिए न कोस लेकिन उसका कोई दोष नहीं है। वह अन्धा है। इस लिए वह अपनी प्रतिभा का प्रयोग नहीं कर सकता।

2. “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied
I fondly ask ; but Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies : ‘God doth not need
Either man’s work or His own gifts ; who best
Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best.

Word-Notes:
Exact-desire, demand, expect. Day-labour-work that can be done during day. Light denied – when light has not been given. Fondly – foolishly. Patience inner voice. To prevent that murmur-to stop all those doubts. Yoke-burden.

Explanation:
In these lines, Milton foolishly questions God how He can expect him to work when He has denied him his eye-sight. He murmurs against the ways of God to man. He feels that God has no right to demand work from him because He has made him blind. The poet’s inner voice or conscience comes to his help. It tells him that God does not want any return for His gifts. Those who accept His will willingly are His best servants.

इन पंक्तियों में Milton परमात्मा से प्रश्न पूछता है कि जब उसने उसके देखने की शक्ति छीन ली है तो उससे काम करने की आशा नहीं की जा सकती। वह आदमी के प्रति परमात्मा के तौर-तरीकों के विरुद्ध बुड़बुड़ करता है। वह महसूस करता है कि परमात्मा को कोई अधिकार नहीं है कि वह कोई किया हुआ काम माँगे क्योंकि उसने उसे अन्धा बना दिया है। कवि की भीतर की आवाज़ या अन्तरात्मा उसे कहती है कि परमात्मा को अपने दिए हुए उपहारों का कोई मुआवजा नहीं चाहिये। जो लोग परमात्मा की मर्जी के अनुसार काम करते हैं वे ही उसके बेहतरीन नौकर होते हैं।

3. His state is kingly ; thousands at His bidding speed,
And post o’er land and ocean without rest ;
They also serve who only stand and wait. (V.V. Important)

Word-Notes: State-kingdom. Kingly-like that of a king. Thousands–thousands of angels. At His bidding-when ordered by Him. Speed-travel. Post – do their duty.

Explanation:
In these lines the poet says that God has thousands of angels at His command. They are willing to carry out the orders of God. Some of the angels go to far off places. Other angels stand near God and wait for His orders. Those who stand near God are as faithful servants of God as those angels who do active duty.

The poet means to say that those men who cannot do active work need not grumble. They must have the humility to work for God. In that case they are as good as active workers. One should learn to submit oneself to the will of God without questioning His authority.

इन पंक्तियों में कवि कहता है कि परमात्मा के पास अपने आदेश के अनुसार काम करने वाले हज़ारों फरिश्ते हैं। वे परमात्मा के आदेशों को मानने के लिए हर समय तैयार रहते हैं। उनमें से कुछ फरिश्ते दूर के स्थानों पर नियुक्त किये गये होते हैं। जो परमात्मा के पास खड़े रहते हैं वे भी उतने ही वफ़ादार होते हैं जितने सक्रिय सेवा करने वाले होते हैं।

कवि के कहने का मतलब है कि जो व्यक्ति सक्रिय काम नहीं कर सकते उन्हें बुड़बुड़ करने की आवश्यकता नहीं। उन्हें परमात्मा के लिए नम्रता से काम करना चाहिए। उस हालत में वे सक्रिय काम करने वालों जितने अच्छे होते हैं। परमात्मा के आदेश को चुनौती दिए बिना उन्हें परमात्मा के प्रभुत्व को मानना चाहिए।

Comprehension Of Stanzas

1. When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless …..

Questions :
(a) In the first line ‘light’ is a ………. for vision. (alliteration/metaphor) .
(b) The word ‘spent’ means …….. (used up, alienated)
(c) Name the poet of this poem.
(d) What is the meaning of the word ‘talent in the line “…….. and that one talent ……. ” ?
Answers :
(a) metaphor
(b) used up.
(c) John Milton.
(d) Poetic gift or poetic ability.

2. But Patience to prevent
That murmur soon replies,
‘God doth not need
Either man’s work or His own gifts.
Who best Bear
His mild yoke, they serve Him best.’ (V.V. Imp.)

Questions :
(a) Identify the figure of speech in the line ……. But Patience to prevent That murmur, soon replies ……..
(b) The speaker’s murmur is about the question whether God would be so cruel as to make impossible demand of work. But then who steps in to stop him.
(c) What does Patience say about God ?
(d) Which line in the poem says, “Those who accept God’s control over their own existence are the best servants of God.”?
Answers :
(a) The figure of speech is personification.
(b) Patience (voice of conscience) steps in to stop him.
(c) Patience says that God does not need man’s work nor any compensation for the gifts that God has given to man.
(d) Who best bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best.

On His Blindness Summary in English

On His Blindness Introduction:

This poem deals with the loss of Milton’s eye-sight. He has become blind. He has hardly lived half of his life. The gift of writing poetry is lying unused with him. He is very anxious to serve God with it. He fears lest God should punish him for not making use of his gift. He becomes impatient. He asks himself if God expects work from him even after his blindness. But soon he realises that they also serve who only stand and wait. He submits himself to the will of God.

On His Blindness Summary in English:

Milton lost his eye-sight at the age of forty three. He felt grief-stricken at this loss. The world appeared dark and desolate to him. God had given him the gift of writing poetry. He felt helpless. He could not make use of this gift. He was a religious-minded man. He wanted to use the gift of writing poetry in the service of God. He felt that his gift was useless.

He feared that God would scold him for wasting His gift. He thought of the servant who did not use a talent given to him by his master. On his return the master scolded the servant for not using the talent. In the same way, Milton feared that God would scold him for not making use of the talent of writing poetry.

So Milton starts grumbling. He foolishly asks himself the question if God wants him to work after taking away his eye-sight. His inner voice however comes to his help. It tells him not to grumble about the ways of God to man.

It assures him that God’s ways to man are absolutely just. God does not want any compensation for the talents that He gives to human beings. He does not want man to work to please Him. Those who accept God’s will happily are His best servants. God has given a light responsibility to each one of us. We must accept that responsibility without grumbling.

On His Blindness Summary in Hindi

On His Blindness Introduction:

यह कविता कवि Milton की आँखों की रोशनी चले जाने से सम्बन्धित है। वह अन्धा हो गया है। उसने अभी तक अपने जीवन की आधी अवधि व्यतीत की है। कविता लिखने की प्रतिभा उसके पास बेकार पड़ी है। वह इस प्रतिभा को परमात्मा की सेवा में प्रयोग करना चाहता है। उसे डर लगाता कि कहीं इस योग्यता या प्रतिभा को प्रयोग न करने से परमात्मा उसे दंड न दे दे।

वह अधीर हो उठता है। वह अपने आप को पूछता है क्या परमात्मा उससे यह आशा करता है कि उसकी दृष्टि शक्ति चले जाने के बाद भी वह कुछ काम करे। लेकिन शीघ्र ही Milton महसूस करता है कि वे मनुष्य भी परमात्मा की सेवा करते हैं जो उसके पास खड़े रहें और उसके आदेशों की प्रतीक्षा करें। अत: Milton परमात्मा की इच्छा के आगे अपना सिर झुका देता है।

On His Blindness Summary in Hindi:

“On His Blindness’ John Milton द्वारा लिखी चौदह पंक्तियों की एक प्रसिद्ध कविता है। कवि को दुःख है कि वह आधा जीवन व्यतीत करने से पहले ही अन्धा हो गया है और अन्धा होने के पश्चात् यह संसार उसके लिए अन्धेरा तथा विशाल बन गया है। मिल्टन का कहना है कि परमात्मा ने उसको कविता लिखने की कला दी है। वह इस कला का प्रयोग करने का बहुत इच्छुक है। उसकी प्रबल इच्छा है कि वह परमात्मा की पूजा करने के लिए एक महान् धार्मिक कविता लिखे। इस कला को छिपाना उसके लिए मृत्यु के समान है। परन्तु वह अपने अन्धेपन के कारण विवश हो जाता है।

मिल्टन अपनी इस विवशता के कारण चिन्तित है। उसको भय है कि परमात्मा उसको इस कला के प्रयोग न करने के कारण डांटेगा। उसको बाइबिल की एक कहानी याद आती है जिसमें एक स्वामी ने उस नौकर को बहुत डांटा था जिसने उस गुण का प्रयोग नहीं किया था जो दिया गया था। कुछ क्षण के लिये कवि बहुत परेशानी महसूस करता है। परमात्मा के प्रति उसके विश्वास में थोड़ी हलचल हो जाती है और वह पूछता है कि जब उसे आंखों की रोशनी से वंचित कर दिया गया है तो वह अपनी प्रवीणता (कविता लिखने की योग्यता) को कैसे प्रयोग कर सकता है।

परन्तु शीघ्र ही उसकी अन्तरात्मा उसकी बेचैनी को दूर कर देती है। ईश्वर के प्रति उसका विश्वास दृढ हो जाता है। उसे समझ आ जाती है कि परमात्मा को मनुष्य की किसी सेवा की आवश्यकता नहीं। परमात्मा को उन उपहारों के प्रतिदान की आवश्यकता भी नहीं जो उसने मनुष्य को दिये होते हैं। परमात्मा केवल यह चाहता है कि मनुष्य अपने को उसकी इच्छा के सामने समर्पित कर दे।

परमात्मा की आज्ञा पूरी करने के लिये उसके पास हज़ारों फरिश्ते हैं। ये फरिश्ते परमात्मा के आदेशों का पालन करने के लिए जल-थल पर शीघ्रता से पहुंच जाते हैं। परन्तु केवल वही फरिश्ते परमात्मा के सेवक नहीं जो उसका आदेश पूरा करने के लिए घूमते हैं। वे फरिश्ते जो खड़े होकर उसके आदेश की प्रतीक्षा करते हैं वे उसके सच्चे सेवक हैं। मिल्टन अपने आपको इन फरिश्तों के समान समझता है जो खड़े रहकर ईश्वर के आदेश की प्रतीक्षा करते हैं।

On His Blindness Central Idea

This poem is based on the idea that the ways of God to man are just. Man must cheerfully adjust himself to the circumstances in which God has placed him. The real service of God lies in feeling happy and contented with our lot. God does not want any return for the gifts that He has given to human beings. God does not want man to work to please Him. Those who accept God’s will cheerfully are His best servants.

On His Blindness Central Idea In Hindi

यह कविता इस विचार पर आधारित है कि आदमी के प्रति परमात्मा के तरीके न्यायसंगत होते हैं। जिन परिस्थितियों में परमात्मा ने आदमी को रखा है उनके अनुसार आदमी को अपने आपको सहर्ष ढाल लेना चाहिये। परमात्मा की वास्तविक सेवा यह होती है कि हम अपने भाग्य या तकदीर से प्रसन्न और सन्तुष्ट रहें। जो उपहार परमात्मा ने आदमी को दिए हैं उनके लिए परमात्मा को कोई मुआवज़ा नहीं चाहिए। परमात्मा यह नहीं चाहता कि आदमी उसको प्रसन्न करने के लिए काम करे। जो व्यक्ति परमात्मा की मर्जी को प्रसन्नता से स्वीकार कर लेते हैं वे ही उसके बेहतरीन सेवक होते हैं।

PSEB 12th Class English Solutions Chapter 9 In Celebration of Being Alive

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Prasanna

Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions Chapter 9 In Celebration of Being Alive Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

PSEB Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 9 In Celebration of Being Alive

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Write in brief about Dr. Barnard’s brother’s suffering.
(Dr. Barnard के भाई की पीड़ा के बारे में विस्तार से लिखें।)
Answer:
Dr. Barnard was introduced to suffering of children when he was a little boy. One day, his father showed him a half eaten mouldy biscuit. It had two tiny touth marks in it. His father told Barnard the suffering of his brother. He had been born with an abnormal heart. If he had been born today, probably someone could have corrected that heart problem. But in those days such a surgery was not available.

Dr. Barnard जब एक छोटा लड़का था तो उसे बच्चों के दुःख भोग से परिचित कराया गया। एक दिन उसके बाप ने उसे आधा खाया हुआ खराब सा बिसकिट दिखाया। उस पर दो छोटे दाँतों के निशान थे। उसके बाप ने उसे उसके भाई के कष्ट के बारे बताया। वह जब पैदा हुआ तो उसका दिल असाधारण था। यदि वह आज पैदा होता तो सम्भवतः उसके दिल की समस्या को कोई ठीक कर देता। लेकिन उन दिनों ऐसा इलाज उपलब्ध नहीं था।

Question 2.
What was an eye-opener for Dr. Barnard at Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital ? Explain. (Imp.)
(Cape Town के Red Cross Children हस्पताल में Dr. Barnard के लिए आँखें खोलने वाली कौन सी बात थी? व्याख्या कीजिए।)
Answer:
It opened his eyes to the fact that he was missing something in all his thinking about suffering. He was missing something basic that was full of consolation for him. That morning a breakfast trolley was taken away by two brave boys a driver and a mechanic. The mechanic ran along behind the trolley with his head down.

The driver seated on the lower deck of the trolley, held on with one hand and steered by scraping his foot on the floor. The mechanic was totally blind and the driver had only one arm. They put an a very good show.

इस तथ्य को देखकर उसकी आँखें खुलीं कि दुःख भोग के बारे अपनी पूरी सोच में वह किसी चीज़ से वंचित हो रहा था। वह कुछ बुनियादी चीज़ों से वंचित हो रहा था जो उसे पूर्णतया सांत्वना दे सकती थी। उस प्रातः एक नाशते वाली trolley को दो बहादुर लड़के ले गये। उनमें से एक ने mechanic का काम किया और दूसरे ने driver का।

Mechanic अपने सिर को नीचे करके Trolley के पीछे तेज़ी से भांगता गया। Trolley के निचले floor पर बैठा हुआ driver अपने एक हाथ से ट्रॉली को पकड़े हए अपने पैर से फर्श को कुरेदते हुए मार्गदर्शन करता रहा। Mechanic पूरी तरह से अन्धा था और driver की एक भुजा थी। उन दोनों ने बड़ा अच्छा प्रदर्शन किया।

Question 3.
How did the driver and the mechanic put up an entertaining show with an unattended trolley ? (Imp.)
(Driver और mechanic ने एक ट्राली के साथ जिसकी कोई देखभाल नहीं कर रहा था, कैसे रुचिकर प्रदर्शन किया?)
Answer:
One morning a nurse had left a breakfast trolley unattended. Very soon this trolley was taken away by two brave boys–a driver and a mechanic. The mechanic was totally blind. The driver had only one arm. The mechanic provided running power to the trolley by running fast along behind the trolley with his head down. The driver got seated on the lower deck of the trolley. He held on with one hand and steered by scraping his foot on the floor.

The two put on quite a show that day. The rest of the patients laughed and shouted. It was a better entertainment than a car race. There was also a show of scattered plates and silverware. Then the nurse and ward sister caught up with them. The driver and the mechanic were scolded and put back to bed.

एक प्रातः एक नर्स ने एक नाशते की Trolley को छोड़ रखा था और उसकी कोई देखभाल नहीं कर रहा था। बड़ी जल्दी इस Trolley को दो बहादुर लड़के ले गये–एक लड़का mechanic था और दूसरा ड्राईवर। Mechanic पूर्णतया अन्धा था। Driver की केवल एक भुजा थी। Mechanic ने Trolley को दौड़ने की शक्ति उपलब्ध करवाई और वह अपना सिर नीचा करके पीछे तेज़-तेज़ दौड़ता गया।

Driver Trolley के निचले deck पर बैठकर एक हाथ से मार्गदर्शन करता रहा और फर्श पर अपने पैर से कुरेदता रहा। दोनों ने एक अच्छा शो प्रस्तुत किया। बाकी के मरीज़ हंसते रहे और साथ ही चिल्लाते रहे। यह कारों की दौड़ से भी बेहतर मनोरंजन था। वहाँ पर बिखरी हुई प्लेटों और बर्तनों का भी शो था। फिर नर्स और वार्ड की सिस्टर ने उन दोनों को पकड़ लिया। Driver और Mechanic को डांटा गया और उन्हें बिस्तर पर लिटा दिया गया।

Question 4.
What made the mechanic lose his eyes ? (Imp.)
(Mechanic की आँखें कैसे चली गईं ?)
Answer:
The mechanic was seven years old when his mother and father were drunk. His mother threw a lantern at his father. The lantern missed his father. It broke over the child’s head and shoulders. He suffered very bad burns on the upper part of his body. He lost both his eyes. At the time of the Grand Prix (car race) he was a walking horror. Despite his disability he loved to laugh.

Mechanic सात वर्ष का था जब उसके माता-पिता ने शराब पी हुई थी। उसकी माँ ने उसके बाप पर लालटेन फैंकी। यह लालटेन उसके बाप को तो नहीं लगी। यह बच्चे के सिर पर और कन्धों को लग कर टूट गई। उसके शरीर के ऊपरी भाग पर जलने से कई घाव हो गये। उसकी दोनों आँखें चली गईं। Grand Prix car race के समय यह लड़का (mechanic) बड़ा डरावना लगता था। अपनी अशक्तता या असमर्थता के बावजूद वह हंसना पसंद करता था।

Question 5.
Write a note on the theme of the chapter ‘In Celebration of Being Alive’. (V.V. Imp.) (V.V. Imp.)
(इस Chapter के विषय पर एक नोट लिखो।)
Answer:
This lesson is based on the idea that one must not feel troubled by thoughts of suffering and pain. Pleasure and pain are parts of human life. One must try to forget suffering and try to find joy in the present state of freedom from pain and suffering. We can learn this lesson for living from the young people who like to lead cheerful lives.

Dr. Barnard was most often thinking of suffering and pain. But one must get on with the business of living. Business of living is joy in the real sense of the word without sorrow and suffering. The business of living is the celebration of living.

यह पाठ इस विचार पर आधारित है कि दुःख और व्यथा के बारे सोचकर मनुष्य को पीड़ित नहीं होना चाहिए। खुशी और दुःख आदमी के जीवन का आवश्यक अंग हैं। आदमी को दुःख को भूल जाना चाहिए और वर्तमान दु:खों से मुक्त समय में मज़ा लेना चाहिए। यह सबक हम उन किशोरों से सीख सकते हैं जो प्रसन्नतापूर्वक जीवन व्यतीत करते हैं। Dr. Barnard हमेशा दुःखों और पीड़ा के बारे सोचता रहता था। लेकिन वास्तव में आदमी को जीते रहने में ही मज़ा लेना चाहिए। दुःखों और पीड़ा से रहित होकर जीवन व्यतीत करने में ही मज़ा होता है। आदमी को जी लेने को जश्न की तरह मनाना चाहिए।

Question 6.
How did Dr. Barnard correct his notions about suffering? (V.V. Imp.).
(Dr. Barnard ने अपने दुःख भोगने के विचारों को कैसे ठीक किया?)
Answer:
Dr. Barnard had been looking at suffering from the wrong end. He had realised that one did not become a better person because one had been suffering. One becomes a better person because he has experienced suffering. We can’t appreciate light if we have not known darkness. Nor can we appreciate warmth if we have never suffered cold.

The two children, the mechanic and the driver showed to him that it was not what one has lost that is important. What is important is what you have been left with. The two children gave him a profound lesson that the business of living is the celebration of being alive.

डाक्टर Barnard दुःखों को गलत ढंग से देखता था। उसने महसूस किया था कि आदमी दुःख भोगने से ही बेहतर व्यक्ति नहीं बन जाता। कोई मनुष्य बेहतर तब बन जाता है जब उसने दुःखों को अनुभव किया हो। हम रोशनी की तब तक कदर नहीं कर सकते जब तक हमने अन्धेरे को अनुभव नहीं किया हो। हम तपन के मूल्य को नहीं जान सकते जब तक हमने सर्दी का अनुभव न किया हो।

Mechanic और driver दो बच्चों ने Dr. Barnard को दिखला दिया कि जो किसी ने खो दिया है, वह इतना महत्त्वपूर्ण नहीं होता। महत्त्वपूर्ण तो वह होता है जो हमारे पास शेष रह जाता है। दोनों बच्चों ने उसको महत्त्वपूर्ण सबक सिखाया कि जिन्दा रहने के तथ्य को जश्न की तरह मनाया जाना चाहिये। किसी ने ठीक ही कहा है : जिन्दगी जिंदादिली का नाम है मुर्दा दिल क्या खाक जिया करते हैं।

Long Answer Type Question

Question 1.
What was the lesson Dr. Barnard learnt from two brave youngsters ? (V. Imp.)
(Dr. Barnard ने दो युवा बहादुर लड़कों से क्या सबक सीखा ?)
Answer:
The two brave youngsters were a blind mechanic and a driver with only one hand. They once took away a breakfast trolley and provided a lot of entertainment to the people by driving the trolley. The mechanic once got serious injuries by a burning lamp.

The driver had a hole in his heart. Both were very happy despite their unhealthy weak bodies. These two children gave to Dr. Barnard a lesson in getting on with the business of living. The business of living is joy in the real sense of the word. It is the celebration of being alive. Dr. Barnard had been looking at suffering from the wrong end.

One does not become a better person by suffering. One becomes a better person because one has experienced suffering. We can’t appreciate light if we have not known darkness. Nor can we appreciate warmth if we have never suffered cold. These children showed to Dr. Barnard that it is not what we have lost that’s important. What is more important is what we have been left with.

दो युवा बहादुर लड़कों में एक Mechanic था जो बिल्कुल अन्धा था और दूसरा Driver था जिसका केवल एक हाथ था। उन दोनों ने एक नाश्ते वाली Trolley को लिया और इसको चलाकर लोगों को बड़ा मनोरंजन उपलब्ध करवाया। Mechanic को एक बार जलते हुए लैम्प से गंभीर चोटें आईं थीं।

Driver के हृदय में छेद था। अपने अस्वस्थ कमज़ोर शरीरों के बावजूद दोनों प्रसन्न थे। इन दोनों बच्चों ने Dr. Barnard को जिन्दा रहने के धन्धे के बारे एक गंभीर सबक सिखाया। जिन्दा रहने का धन्धा तो एक मज़े वाला काम है। यह तो जिंदगी को जश्न समझना होता है। Dr. Barnard कष्ट भोगने को गलत सिरे से देख रहा था। आदमी कष्ट भोगने से बेहतर व्यक्ति नहीं बन जाता। आदमी इसलिए बेहतर बन जाता है क्योंकि उसने कष्टों का अनुभव किया होता है।

हम रोशनी की कदर नहीं करते जब तक हमने अन्धेरा न देखा हो। न ही हम तपने का मूल्य समझ सकते हैं जब तक हम सर्दी से पीड़ित नहीं होते। इन बच्चों ने Dr. Barnard को दिखाया कि जो हम ने खो दिया है, वह इतना महत्त्वपूर्ण नहीं होता। वह जो हमारे पास रह जाता है, अधिक महत्त्वपूर्ण होता है।

Question 2.
In the hospital, Dr. Barnard experienced not only agony and fear but also anger.Why?
(हस्पताल में Dr. Barnard को न केवल घोर व्यथा और डर का अनुभव हुआ बल्कि उसको क्रोध भी आया। क्यों?)
Answer:
Dr. Barnard and his wife met with an accident while crossing a road. They were admitted in the hospital. There he experienced not only agony and fear but also anger. He could not understand why he and his wife had to suffer. He had eleven broken ribs and a perforated lung. His wife had a badly fractured shoulder. Again and again he asked himself, why this should happen to them. He had work to do. He had patients waiting for him to operate on them. His wife had to take care of the baby.

Dr. Barnard और उसकी पत्नी सड़क पार करते समय एक दुर्घटना में ग्रस्त हो गये। उन्हें हस्पताल में दाखिल करना पड़ा। हस्पताल में उसने न केवल घोर व्यथा और भय का अनुभव किया बल्कि उसे क्रोध भी आया। उसे यह समझ नहीं आ रहा था कि उसे और उसकी पत्नी को क्यों पीड़ा झेलनी पड़ी। उसकी 11 पसलियाँ टूट गईं और उसके फेफड़े में छोटे-छोटे छेद हो गये। उसकी पत्नी का कन्धा बुरी तरह टूट गया। वह अपने आपको बार-बार पूछता कि ऐसी दुर्घटना उनके साथ क्यों हुई। उसे काम करना था। उसके मरीज़ उससे आप्रेशन करवाने के लिए उसकी प्रतीक्षा कर रहे थे। उसकी पत्नी ने बच्चे की देखभाल करनी थी।

Objective Type Questions

This question will consist of 3 objective type questions carrying one mark each. These objective questions will include questions to be answered in one word to one sentence or fill in the blank or true/false or multiple choice type questions.

Question 1.
According to Dr. Barnard what is the business of living ?
Answer:
The business of living is joy in the real sense of the word; it is the celebration of being alive.

Question 2.
What do the people with brave and positive attitude teach us ?
Answer:
They teach us to move forward in life and not to cry and weep.

Question 3.
In which incident were Barnard’s gloomy thoughts rooted ?
Answer:
His gloomy thoughts were rooted in an incident in which he and his wife got involved and then hospitalised.

Question 4.
What was Dr. Barnard’s father’s attitude towards life?
Answer:
Barnard’s father believed that God’s will be done and God tests man through suffering and suffering ennobles man.

Question 5.
What introduced Dr. Barnard to the sufferings of the children ?
Answer:
He came to know the sufferings of children by his brother’s birth with an abnormal heart.

Question 6.
Why couldn’t Barnard’s brother survive ?
Answer:
He could not survive because proper surgical treatment was not available to him.

Question 7.
Why does Dr. Barnard consider the sufferings of the children heart-breaking ?
Answer:
He considers them heart-breaking because they have total faith in the ability of doctors to cure them.

Question 8.
What made the driver and the mechanic choose their roles ?
Answer:
They chose their roles because the mechanic was totally blind and the driver had only one arm. Both were quite suitable for their roles. Spectators enjoyed the fun. They laughed loudly and appreciated the performance of the driver and the mechanic.

Question 9.
Choose the correct option :
(i) Dr. Barnard made history in the field of Cancer.
(ii) Dr. Barnard made history on research in AIDS.
(iii) Dr. Barnard made history in the field of medicine.
Answer:
(iii) Dr. Barnard made history in the field of medicine.

Question 10.
“I see nothing noble in suffering.” (Dr. Barnard) (True/False) (In Celebration of Being Alive)
Answer:
True.

Question 11.
Say if the following statement by Dr. Christiaan Barnard is True or False :
I do not see any nobility in the crying of a child, in a ward at night. (Dr. Barnard)
Answer:
True.

Question 12.
The mechanic in the story was ……… blind. (Fill up the blank with a suitable word)
Answer:
totally

Question 13.
The driver in the story had one disability. What was it ?
Answer:
He had only one hand.

Question 14.
Fill up the blank in the following sentence from the lesson :
The doctor had closed a …………. in the heart of the trolley’s driver.
Answer:
hole.

Question 15.
The mechanic had a tumour ……. the bone. (Fill up the blank)
Answer:
of.

Question 16.
Say if this statement is true or false :
The business of living is joy in the real sense of living.
Answer:
True.

Question 17.
Say if the business of living is the celebration of being alive. (True/False)
Answer:
True.

Question 18.
Say what was Dr. Barnard’s attitude towards life-positive or negative ?
Answer:
It was positive.

Question 19.
Name the writer of this story.
Answer:
Dr. Christiaan Barnard.

Question 20.
Dr. Barnard made history in the field of :
(a) Cancer
(b) Heart transplant
(c) Tuberculosis
(d) Plague.
Answer:
(b) Heart transplant.

Question 21.
A breakfast trolley had been left unattended by one of these:
(a) The nurse
(b) The driver
(c) The doctor
(d) The merchant.
Answer:
(a) The nurse.

Note : Our reader should note that the paper-setter combined Objective Type Questions number 8 as a short answer question. We have added two more sentences for their convenience.

In Celebration of Being Alive Summary in English

In Celebration of Being Alive Introduction:

Dr. Christiaan Barnard made history in the field of medicine. He made attempts to transplant the human heart. This lesson has actually been taken from a speech by him. Dr. Barnard talks about the lesson he took from two youngsters about the business of living. Those who have a brave and positive attitude in life move forward in spite of physical suffering. They do not cry or weep. Such people ignore all pain. They become an example for others. They teach us the real art of living. We should celebrate being alive.

In Celebration of Being Alive Summary in English:

Dr. Christiaan Barnard is about to reach the end of his career as a heart surgeon. He thinks why people suffer so much. There is a lot of suffering in the world. In the year of this lecture, 125 million children were born. 12 million might not reach the age of one and another six million would die before the age of five. Out of the rest many would end up as mental or physical cripples.

He had these thoughts from an accident which he had a few years ago. His wife and he were one day crossing a street. The next moment a car had hit him and knocked him into his wife. She was thrown into the other lane and hit by a car coming from the opposite side. During the next few days in the hospital, he exprienced pain and fear and also anger.

He could not understand why he and his wife had to suffer. His eleven ribs were broken. His lung was holed. His wife had a badly fractured shoulder. He asked himself why all this should happen to them. He had a young baby and his wife was required to take care of him.

If his father had been alive, he would have told him that it was God’s will that he was suffering. God tests human beings through making them suffer. Suffering ennobles a man. As a doctor Barnard sees nothing noble in suffering. Nor does he see any nobility in the crying of a lonely child, in a ward at night. He had his first knowledge of the suffering of children when he was a boy.

His father told him about his brother who had died several years earlier. He had been born with an abnormal heart. If he had been born in the present age, probably his heart problem would have been corrected. But in those days good heart surgery was not available.

As a doctor, Barnard had always found the suffering of children very heart breaking. Children believe that the doctors are going to help them. If doctors cannot help them, they accept their fate. They go through painful surgery and afterwards, they don’t complain.

One morning, several years ago, he saw what he calls the Grand Prix of Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital. It opened his eyes. He felt that he was missing something in all his thinking about suffering.

That morning a nurse had left a breakfast trolley. It was not attended by anyone. Two persons took the trolley away by force. They were a driver and a mechanic. The mechanic was totally blind and the driver had only one arm. Both of them drove the trolley away. The mechanic galloped along behind the trolley with his head down and the driver was seated on the lower deck. He held on with one hand and steered by scraping on his foot on the floor.

People saw them going. They put on a good show. The people laughed encouraged by other patients. The entertainment provided by the blind mechanic and one-handed driver was much better than fun provided by a car race. It was full of solace for Dr. Barnard. The nurse and ward sister caught up with them, scolded them and put them back into bed. The mechanic was seven years old. One night, when his mother and father were drunk, his mother threw a lantern at his father.

The latern broke over the child’s head and shoulders. He suffered some very bad injuries in burns on the upper part of his body and lost both his eyes. He looked horrible. His face was disfigured. When his wound got well, this boy could open his mouth by raising his head. The doctor stopped by to see him after the race. He was shouting that he had won and he was laughing.

The doctor had closed a hole in the heart of the trolley’s driver. He had come back to the hospital because he had a malignant tumour of the bone. A few days before the race, his shoulder and arm were amputated. There was no hope of recovering. After the Grand Prix (the car race) he proudly informed the doctor that the race was a success. The only problem was that the trolley’s wheels were not properly oiled. But he was a good driver and he had full confidence in the mechanic.

The doctor suddenly realised that the two children had given him a useful lesson about getting on the business of living. Business of living is joy in the real sense of living. The business of living is the celebration of being alive. These two children showed to Dr. Barnard that it is not what you have lost that’s important. What is important is what you have been left with.

In Celebration of Being Alive Summary in Hindi

In Celebration of Being Alive Introduction:

यह उद्धरण Dr. Harish K. Puri की पुस्तक Ghadar Movement से लिया गया है। Dr. Harish K. Puri, Guru Nanak Dev University के भूतपूर्व professor हैं। उन्होंने राजनीतिक आन्दोलनों, धर्म और आतंकवाद पर विस्तृत तौर पर पुस्तकें लिखी हैं। इस उद्धरण में उन्होंने cellular jail (काला पानी) का डराने वाला (भयावह) वृत्तान्त दिया है। Cellular शब्द cell से बना है। Cell का अर्थ है छोटी कोठरी। यह cellular जेल Port Blair में स्थित है और इसको अंग्रेजों ने स्थापित किया था। Port Blair, Andaman और Nicobar का बड़ा नगर है। अंग्रेज़ों का मुख्य उद्देश्य था भारतीय स्वतन्त्रता संग्रामियों को 20वीं शताब्दी के शुरू के दशकों में अलग रखना, सज़ा देना और अत्याचार करना।

In Celebration of Being Alive Summary in Hindi:

Dr. Christiaan Barnard अपने (पेशे) heart surgeon के तौर पर अन्तिम पड़ाव में पहुंचने वाला था। वह सोचता है कि लोग इतना दुःख क्यों पाते हैं। संसार में काफ़ी कष्ट होते हैं। इस lecture के वर्ष में 12.5 करोड़ बच्चे पैदा हुए। 120 लाख एक साल की आयु तक भी न पहुंच पायेंगे और 60 लाख 5 साल की उमर तक पहुंचने से पहले ही मर जाएंगे।

बाकी में से बहुत से मानसिक और शारीरिक तौर पर अपंग होंगे। उसको यह विचार एक दुर्घटना से आए जो कुछ साल पहले उसके साथ घटित हुई। उसकी पत्नी और डॉक्टर एक गली को पार कर रहे थे। अगले पल एक कार उसके साथ जा टकराई और वह अपनी पत्नी के साथ जा टकराया। वह दूसरी lane (गली) में जा गिरी और विपरीत दिशा से आती हुई कार ने उसे टक्कर मार दी।

अगले कुछ दिन वे हस्पताल में रहे। उसने वहां कष्ट भोगा, उसको डर भी था और क्रोध भी। वह यह नहीं समझ सका कि उसको और उसकी पत्नी को कष्ट क्यों भोगना पड़ा। उसकी 11 पसलियाँ टूट गईं। उसके एक फेफड़े में छेद हो गया। उसकी पत्नी का एक कंधा टूट गया। वह अपने आप से पूछता कि यह सब कुछ उनके साथ क्यों हुआ। उसका एक छोटा बच्चा था और उसकी पत्नी ने उस बच्चे की देखभाल भी करनी थी।

यदि उसका बाप जिन्दा होता तो वह कहता कि यह परमात्मा की इच्छा थी कि वह कष्ट भोग रहा था। मानवों को दुःख देकर परमात्मा उनको परखता है। दुःख से आदमी महानुभाव हो जाता है। बतौर डॉक्टर Barnard को कष्ट भोगने में कोई श्रेष्ठता दिखाई नहीं देती। न ही उसे हस्पताल के किसी बच्चे के रोने में कोई श्रेष्ठता दिखाई देती है।

जब Barnard एक लड़का था तो उसे बच्चों के कष्टों का तब पता चला। उसके पिता ने उसको उसके (Barnard) के भाई के बारे में बताया जो कई वर्ष पहले मर चुका था। जब उसका भाई एक छोटा बच्चा था, तो उसका भाई एक असाधारण हृदय के साथ पैदा हुआ था। यदि वह वर्तमान काल में पैदा होता तो सम्भवतः उसके दिल की समस्या ठीक कर ली गई होती। परन्तु उन दिनों अच्छी दिल की सर्जरी (शल्य चिकित्सा)उपलब्ध नहीं थी।

डॉक्टर के तौर पर Barnard को बच्चों का कष्ट भोगना बहुत दुःखद होता है। बच्चे डॉक्टरों में विश्वास करते हैं। वे विश्वास करते हैं कि डॉक्टर उनकी सहायता कर रहे हैं। यदि डॉक्टर उनकी सहायता नहीं कर सकते, तो वे अपने भाग्य को स्वीकार कर लेते हैं। वे पीड़ा देने वाली Surgery करवा लेते हैं और बाद में वे शिकायत नहीं करते।

एक प्रातः कई वर्ष पहले उसने cars की दौड़ देखी। इस दौड़ को कहते हैं The Grand Prix of Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital । इसने उसकी आँखें खोल दीं। उसने महसूस किया कि उनके दुःख के बारे सोचने के कारण वह सब चीज़ों से वंचित हो रहा था। उस प्रातः एक नर्स नाश्ते की ट्राली को छोड़ गई थी। कोई इसकी देखभाल नहीं कर रहा था।

दो व्यक्ति यह ट्राली वहां से अपने बल के ज़ोर से ले गये। दोनों में एक driver था और एक mechanic | Mechanic तो बिल्कुल अन्धा था। Driver का केवल एक बाजू था। दोनों ट्राली को चला कर ले गये। एक Mechanic ट्राली के पीछे तेज़ दौड़ता गया और उसने सिर नीचे किया हुआ था। Driver निचले deck पर बैठा हुआ था। वह एक हाथ से ही डटा रहा और फर्श पर अपने पांव को कुरेदता हुआ trolley का परिचालन करता गया।

लोगों ने mechanic और driver को जाते हुए देखा। दोनों ने अच्छा show (प्रदर्शन) किया। लोग भी इस .. show पर हंसते थे क्योंकि हस्पताल के मरीजों से वे उत्साहित हो रहे थे। अन्धे mechanic और एक हाथ वाले driver ने अच्छा मनोरंजन जुटाया। कारों की दौड़ द्वारा जुटाये गये मनोरंजन से trolley द्वारा उपलब्ध किया गया मनोरंजन बहुत बेहतर था। Dr. Barnard के लिए यह सांत्वना का साधन था। Nurse और ward sister ने उनको पकड़ लिया, उनको डांटा और उनको फिर बिस्तर में लिटा दिया।

Mechanic सात साल का था। एक रात जब उसकी माता और पिता ने शराब पी रखी थी, उसकी मां ने उसके पिता पर लालटेन फैंक दी। लालटेन बच्चे के सिर और कंधे के ऊपर टकराकर टूट गई। बच्चे को बहुत चोटें आई। उसके शरीर का ऊपरी भाग झुलस गया और उसकी दोनों आँखें चली गईं। वह भयंकर लगता था। उसका चेहरा बिगड़ गया। जब उसका घाव ठीक हुआ तो यह लड़का अपना मुंह अपना सिर उठाने के बाद ही खोल सकता था। डॉक्टर उसको इसके बाद देखने के लिए वहां खड़ा हो गया। वह चिल्ला-चिल्ला कर कह रहा था कि वह जीत गया है और वह हंस भी रहा था।

डॉक्टर ने trolley के driver के दिल में एक छेद भरा था। वह हस्पताल वापस आया था क्योंकि उसको हड्डी का अर्बुद (रसौली) है। इससे कुछ दिन पहले उसका कंधा और बाजू काटे गये थे। उसके स्वस्थ होने की कोई आशा नहीं थी। Grand Prix (कार रेस) के बाद उसने गर्व से डॉक्टर को सूचित किया था कि रेस सफल थी। केवल समस्या यह थी कि trolley के पहियों को ठीक तरह से तेल नहीं दिया गया था।

लेकिन वह एक अच्छा driver था और उसको mechanic पर पूरा विश्वास था। – डॉक्टर ने अचानक महसूस किया कि दोनों बच्चों ने उसको जिन्दगी जीने के धन्धे के बारे एक लाभदायक पाठ सिखाया था। जीने का धन्धा या काम जीने का असली अर्थ में मज़ा लेना है। जिन्दा रहने का मतलब है जीने का जश्न मनाना। इन दो बच्चों ने डॉक्टर Barnard को सिखला दिया कि यह बात कोई महत्त्व नहीं रखती कि तुमने क्या खो दिया है। केवल वह बात महत्त्व रखती है जो तुम्हारे पास है। क्या खूब कहा गया है|

Word Meanings:
PSEB 12th Class English Solutions Chapter 9 In Celebration of Being Alive 1

PSEB 12th Class English Solutions Poem 7 The Road Not Taken

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Prasanna

Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions Poem 7 The Road Not Taken Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

PSEB Solutions for Class 12 English Poem 7 The Road Not Taken

1. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Word-Notes :
Diverged – branched away. Wood – jungle. Undergrowth – bushes.

Explanation:
The poet came to a junction of two roads in the forest. The roads were branching away from each other. The poet was a single traveller. He was sorry to realize that he could not go along both the roads at one and the same time. He stood at the junction of two roads for a long time. He looked along one of the roads as far as he could to the spot where the road became hidden in the growth of trees and bushes.

कवि जंगल में दो सड़कों के जंकशन पर आया। सड़कें एक दूसरे से अलग हो रही थीं। कवि अकेला यात्री था। उसे यह सोच कर खेद हुआ कि वह एक ही समय पर दोनों सड़कों पर नहीं चल सकता था। वह दोनों सड़कों के जंकशन पर काफी समय के लिए खड़ा रहा। जहाँ तक वह देख सकता था, वह एक सड़क को उस बिन्दु तक देखता रहा जहां यह वृक्षों और झाड़ियों के नीचे जा कर छिपती थी।

2. Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as far that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

Word-Notes : Fair-beautiful. Grassy-covered with grass. Wanted wear-it was not much travelled or used.

Explanation:
The poet came to a junction of two roads in a forest. The roads were branching away from each other. The poet was a single traveller. He stood at the junction of the roads for a long time. He looked along one of the roads as far as he could. The poet then turned to the other road.

This one was just as good and comfortable a road for journeying along as the other one. In a way it was entitled to a preferential treatment. It was grass-covered and therefore provided the traveller with an additional attraction. So far as the use of the either road by travellers up to that point was concerned, both had been frequently used by them and were worn out and broken to the same extent.

फिर कवि ने दूसरी सड़क का रुख किया। यह सड़क भी पहली सड़क की तरह यात्रा करने के लिए अच्छी और आरामदायक थी। यह घास से ढकी हुई थी और इसलिए यह यात्री के लिए अधिक आकर्षण का कारण थी। जहाँ तक उस बिन्दु तक यात्रियों द्वारा दोनों सड़कों के प्रयोग का प्रश्न था तो यात्रियों ने दोनों का प्रयोग किया हुआ था और दोनों उसी सीमा तक घिसी-पिटी हुई थीं।

3. And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day :
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

Word-Notes. Trodden black-had black sign because of travelling.

Explanation. In these lines the poet says that the two roads lay in front of him equally covered with leaves. No human being had yet used either of the roads. The poet decided to reserve the first road for use on a future occasion. He knew it, however, very clearly that from one road or path branches off another. He doubted if he would ever come back to that junction of the roads and fulfil his promise of following the first road.

इन पंक्तियों में कवि कहता है कि दोनों सड़कें पत्तों से बराबर-बराबर ढकी हुई उसके सामने थीं। दोनों सड़कों को अभी तक किसी ने भी प्रयोग नहीं किया था। कवि ने निर्णय कर लिया कि वह पहली सड़क को भविष्य में प्रयोग करने के लिए सुरक्षित रखे। लेकिन वह यह बड़ी अच्छी तरह जानता था कि एक सड़क या रास्ते में से दूसरा रास्ता निकल आता है। उसे संदेह था कि वह फिर कभी सड़कों के उस जंकशन पर वापस आयेगा और पहली सड़क पर चलने के अपने वायदे को पूरा कर पायेगा।

4. I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence :
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Word-Notes : With a sigh-with a sense of regret. Hence-afterwards.

Explanation. In these lines, the traveller says that many years later when he has time to think back, he will tell somebody about how he had made his choice. He will tell him that he had stood for a long time in a jungle at the cross-roads, thinking which road to take. He will cell him how he had chosen the road which was less travelled. This choice had made all the difference for him. It affected not only the future course of his life on this earth but also his spiritual course after death.

इन पंक्तियों में यात्री कहता है कि कई वर्ष बाद जब वह इस बात पर विचार करेगा, तो वह किसी को बतायेगा कि उसने अपना चुनाव किस तरह किया। वह कहेगा कि वह जंगल में चौराहे पर काफी देर खड़ा रहा यह सोचते हुए कि उसको किस सड़क का चुनाव करना चाहिये। वह उसे बतायेगा कि उसने किस प्रकार उस सड़क का चुनाव किया था जिस पर कम लोग ही चले थे। इस चुनाव ने उसके लिए सारा अन्तर बना दिया। इस ने न केवल धरती पर उसके जीवन के भविष्य वाले मार्ग पर प्रभाव डाला बल्कि उसकी मौत के बाद उसके आध्यात्मिक रास्ते पर भी प्रभाव डाला।

Comprehension Of Stanza

1. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow :

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth (Imp.)

Questions :
(a) Name the poet and the poem.
(b) What did the poet see in front of him ?
(c) What is the poet sorry about ?
(d) What is the symbolic meaning of two different paths in the woods ?
Answers
(a) The name of the poet is Robert Frost and the name of the poem is “The Road Not Taken’.
(b) He saw that two roads diverged in front of him.
(c) He is sorry that he could not travel on both the roads.
(d) The one path is for the ordinary people. The other less travelled path is for the extraordinary people.

2. Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as far that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

Questions :
(a) Name the poet and the poem.
(b) Where was the poet when he took the other road ?
(c) Why did the poet take the other road ?
(d) Why was the other road entitled to a better treatment ?
Answers :
(a) Robert Frost is the poet. The name of the poem is “The Road Not Taken”.
(b) He had come to a junction of two roads in a forest.
(c) He took the other road because it was just as good and comfortable a road for travelling as the other one.
(d) It was entitled to a preferential treatment because it was grass covered and provided some attraction to the traveller.

3. And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day.
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

Questions :
(a) Who are ‘both’ referred to in the first line of the passage/ stanza ?
(b) What did the poet decide about the first road ?
(c) What did the poet know about the roads ?
(d) What was the doubt in the poet’s mind ?
Answers :
(a) They are the two roads.
(b) The poet decided to reserve the first road for use on a future occasion.
(c) The poet knew that from one road or path branches off another.
(d) The poet doubted if he would ever come back to the junction of the two roads.

4. I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I
I took the one less travelled by
And that has made all the difference.

Questions :
(a) Which path did the poet choose to travel ?
(b) What does the poet mean by the word difference in the last line ?
(c) Is the poet doubtful about his decision ?
(d) Justify the title of the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’.
Answers :
(a) He chose the less travelled path.
(b) The poet hints at the difference between the ordinary and the extraordinary.
(c) The poet is not at all doubtful.
(d) Actually “The Road Taken’ should have been the title because the poet took the less travelled road.
Or
The title “The Road Not Taken’ is also correct because the poet gives his reason why he took one road and rejected the other.

The Road Not Taken Summary in English

The Road Not Taken Introduction:

This poem is based on a very common experience. A traveller was going through a forest. He reached a point where the road diverged in two directions. Both the roads looked equally attractive to the traveller. But he decided to take the one that did not show much sign of having been used. It is true that if he had chosen the beaten path (much used road) he could be sure of reaching somewhere.

He would not have faced many difficulties in life. But he took the one less travelled by’ and that has made all the difference. The poet suggests that the choices which one makes in life are for good. One cannot turn back and make a second choice regarding one’s goal in life. Therefore, one should be very careful in making the choice. He also suggests that by choosing the ordinary course in life, one cannot hope to become extraordinary.

The Road Not Taken Summary in English:

In this poem the poet brings out the importance of choice-making in one’s life. He says that choices cannot be changed. They have a very far-reaching influence. They influence the whole course of man’s life. Another idea brought out in this poem is that one can’t achieve extraordinary things by taking an ordinary course. Only very ordinary men follow the beaten paths. Great souls always prefer to tread new paths. The poet illustrates this idea with the help of a very common experience.

Once the poet was travelling through a forest. He came to a place from where the road branched off in two directions. It was not possible for the poet to travel by both the roads at the same time. He had to choose one of the two. The poet stood there and thought for a long time.

One of the roads was visible to some distance. It meant that the road had frequently been used. The other road was overgrown with grass. It meant that this road had not been used much. The poet decided to go by the second road. He kept the first one for another day.

The poet imagines a time many ages hence. He will then be in some other world. He will then recall how he had decided to travel by the less-frequented road. This choice had made all the difference for him. It affected not only the future course of his life on this earth but also his spiritual course after death. Thus with the help of symbols the poet brings out the idea that man has to choose between the roads of materialism and spiritualism in his life. The choice once made is for good. It cannot be changed later.

The Road Not Taken Summary in Hindi

The Road Not Taken Introduction:

यह कविता एक साधारण अनुभव पर आधारित है। एक यात्री जंगल में से जा रहा था। वह एक ऐसे स्थान पर पहुंचा जहां से सड़क दो भिन्न-भिन्न दिशाओं में जाती थी। यात्री को दोनों सड़कें एक जैसी आकर्षक प्रतीत होती थीं। लेकिन उसने उस सड़क पर चलने का निर्णय लिया जिस पर बहुत अधिक लोग नहीं चले थे। यह बात सच है कि यदि वह उस सड़क पर जाने का निर्णय करता जिस पर अधिक लोग चले थे तो वह अवश्य ही किसी स्थान पर पहुंच जाता। उसने बहुत कठिनाईयों या समस्याओं का सामना न किया होता।

लेकिन उसने उस सड़क को चुना जिस पर बहुत कम लोग चले थे और इसी चीज़ ने इतना अन्तर डाल दिया। कवि के कहने का मतलब है कि आदमी अपने जीवन में जिस चीज़ का चुनाव करता है वह सदा के लिए होता है। आदमी वापस मुड़ कर अपने लक्ष्य के बारे में दूसरा चुनाव नहीं कर सकता। इसलिए मनुष्य को किसी लक्ष्य का चुनाव पूरे ध्यान से करना चाहिए। कवि यह भी कहता है कि जीवन में साधारण मार्ग चुनकर आदमी असाधारण नहीं बन सकता।

The Road Not Taken Summary in Hindi:

‘The Road Not Taken’ कवि Robert Frost की सबसे महान् कविताओं में से एक है । यह कविता बताती है कि जीवन के पतझड़ी जंगलों में आदमी ने दो मार्गों में से किस एक को चुनना होता है। कवि इस स्थिति के द्वारा जीवन में चुनाव के महत्त्व पर टिप्पणी करता है। मनुष्य के अन्दर कोई ऐसी भावना होती है जो उसे अपना लक्ष्य चुनने में सहायता करती है। व्यक्ति दोनों में से किसी एक मार्ग को इसलिए चुन लेता है कि यह अधिक उचित दिखाई पड़ता है।

कवि कहता है कि पीले पड़े जंगलों में वह एक ऐसे स्थान पर जा पहुंचा जहां पर दो मार्ग अलग-अलग दिशाओं में जाते थे। पर वह दोनों मार्गों पर नहीं जा सकता था। उसे दोनों मार्गों में से एक का चुनाव करना था। पहले उसने एक मार्ग पर इतनी दूर देखा जितनी दूर वह देख सकता था। यह मार्ग उसे झाड़ियों के नीचे मुड़ता हुआ दिखाई दिया।

फिर कवि ने दूसरा मार्ग ले लिया। उसने सोचा कि यह अधिक उचित था। यह एक घास उगा मार्ग था। कवि को ऐसा दिखाई दिया कि उससे पहले उस मार्ग पर बहुत कम लोग चले थे। जहां तक दूसरे का सम्बन्ध था उस पर बहुत से लोग चल चुके थे। दूसरे शब्दों में यह घिसा-पिटा मार्ग था।

उस प्रातः जब कवि पतझड़ी पीले जंगल में खड़ा था तो उसने देखा कि दोनों मार्ग पत्तों से ढके थे। दोनों मार्गों पर कोई भी चला दिखाई नहीं देता था। कवि ने सोचा कि वह पहले मार्ग पर बाद में किसी ओर समय पर आएगा। अतः उसने दूसरे मार्ग पर चलना आरम्भ कर दिया परन्तु उसे यह ज्ञात हो गया कि यदि एक बार कोई चुनाव कर लेता है तो वापस लौट कर दूसरे मार्ग पर जाना नहीं हो सकता।

कवि दूर भविष्य के बारे में सोचता है जब वह अपने चुने हुए मार्ग पर चल चुका होगा। फिर शायद वह ठण्डी सांस लेकर पीछे की ओर देखेगा और सोचेगा कि शायद दूसरा मार्ग अधिक लाभदायक होता। परन्तु उस समय इतनी देर हो चुकी होगी कि वापिस आना कठिन होगा।

फिर वह महसूस करेगा कि कम लोगों द्वारा अपनाए गए मार्ग को चुनने के कारण ही उसके जीवन में सारा अन्तर पड़ा। कवि यह सुझाव देता है कि मनुष्य को जीवन में अपने चुनावों के परिणामों को भुगतना पड़ता है। वह स्थिति को ठीक नहीं कर सकता यदि उसने जीवन में गलत चुनाव किया है। वह केवल पछता ही सकता है।

The Road Not Taken Central Idea

This poem is based on the idea of choice-making in life. Choice of one’s aim is very difficult. It has a great influence. It influences the whole course of a man’s life. Another idea in the poem is that one cannot achieve extraordinary things by taking an ordinary course. Only ordinary people follow the beaten path. Great souls always prefer to take new paths. By doing so they break fresh ground.

The Road Not Taken Central Idea In Hindi

यह कविता जीवन में.लक्ष्य का चुनाव करने पर आधारित है। अपने लक्ष्य का चुनाव करना बड़ा कठिन होता है। चुनाव करने का बहुत महत्त्व होता है। यह आदमी के पूरे जीवन को प्रभावित करता है। कविता में एक विचार यह भी है कि साधारण मार्ग पर चलकर कोई व्यक्ति आसाधारण उपलब्धियाँ प्राप्त नहीं कर सकता। केवल साधारण व्यक्ति घिसे-पिटे रास्ते पर चलते हैं। महान् आत्माएं सदा नये रास्तों पर चलना पसन्द करती हैं। ऐसा करने से वे नई राहें खोज लेते हैं।

PSEB 12th Class English Solutions Poem 6 Father Returning Home

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Prasanna

Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions Poem 6 Father Returning Home Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

PSEB Solutions for Class 12 English Poem 6 Father Returning Home

1. My father travels on the late evening train
Standing among silent commuters in the yellow light
Suburbs slide past his unseeing eyes
His shirt and pants are soggy and his black raincoat
Stained with mud and his bag stuffed with books Is falling apart.
Is falling apart.

Word-Notes :
Commuter-a daily passenger travelling up and down; Suburbs – areas outside the centre of a town where people live; Slide – slip away; Soggywet; Stained-made dirty; Stuffed-full of; Is falling apart-is getting torn.

Explanation:
In these lines the poet talks about his father. He travels back home. He stands in the compartment of the local train. He stands silently among other commuters. His compartment has yellow light. The train goes on moving smoothly passing by suburbs. His eyes do not see the sliding suburbs. His shirt and trousers are wet and soft. His black raincoat is dirty with mud. His bag is stuffed with books and it seems to be getting torn.

इन पंक्तियों में कवि अपने पिता के बारे बात करता है। वह Local गाड़ी से अपने काम से घर लौट रहा है। वह लोकल गाड़ी के डिब्बे में खड़े होकर यात्रा करता है। वह दूसरे यात्रियों के बीच में चुपचाप खड़ा रहता है। उसके डिब्बे में पीला सा प्रकाश है। गाड़ी उपनगरियों को पीछे छोड़कर आगे निविघ्न चलती जा रही है। उसकी कमीज़ और पतलून गीली और नर्म हो गई है। उसका काला रेन-कोट कीचड़ से गंदा है। उसके थैले में किताबें भरी पड़ी हैं और थैला फटता नज़र आ रहा है।

2. His eyes dimmed by age
Face homeward through the humid monsoon night.
Now I can see him getting off the train
Like a word dropped from a long sentence.
He hurries across the length of the grey platform,
Crosses the railway line, enters the lane,
His chapplas arc sticky with mud, but he hurries forward.

Explanation:
The poet says that his father’s eyes have become weak due to old age. In dim light they look at the home through the wet monsoon night. Now the poet can see him getting off the train. While getting off the train, his father looks like a word dropped from a long sentence. He hurries across the length of the grey platform. He crosses the railway line. He enters the lane where his home is situated. His chappals are slippery because of the mud sticking to them. But he hurries and proceeds to his home.

कवि के पिता की आँखें वृद्ध अवस्था के कारण कमजोर हो गई हैं। वे मद्धम प्रकाश में भीगी हुई मानसून की रात में से अपने घर की ओर देखती हैं। अब कवि अपने पिता को गाड़ी से उतरते हुए देखता है। गाड़ी से उतरते समय वह ऐसे लगता है जैसे किसी लम्बे वाक्य से एक शब्द अलग हो गया हो। वह शीघ्रता से प्लेटफार्म की लम्बाई को लांघता जाता है। वह रेलवे लाईन को पार कर जाता है। वह उस तंग गली में आ जाता है जहां उसका घर स्थित है। उसकी चप्पलें कीचड़ के कारण फिसलने वाली हैं। लेकिन वह जल्दी-जल्दी घर लौट रहा

3. Home again, I see him drinking weak tea,
Eating a stale chapati, reading a book.
He goes into the toilet to contemplate
Man’s estrangement from a man-made world.
Coming out, he trembles at the sink
The cold water running over his brown hands,
A few droplets cling to the greying hairs on his wrists.

Word-Notes :
Home again – the writer’s father has returned home after work ; Weak tea – tea with light brew ; Stale – not fresh ; Sink-a basin for washing pots ; Estrangement – no longer friendly or loyal; Contemplate – to think over, to view some thing ; Droplets – small drops.

Explanation:
In these lines the poet says that his father has come back home from work. He then sees him drinking weak tea. He sees him eating a stale chapati, reading a book. Then he sees him going to the toilet to think over man’s situation. Probably, his father would be thinking over man’s being alienated from the man-made world. He comes out of the toilet. Then he goes to the sink and trembles at the touch of cold water. The cold water runs over his brown hands. A few drops of water cling to the grey hairs on his wrists.

इन पंक्तियों में कवि कहता है कि उसका पिता काम से घर वापस लौट आया है। फिर वह उसको हल्की चाय पीते देखता है। फिर वह उसको एक बासी चपाती खाते हुए देखता है। फिर वह शौचालय में जाता है जहां वह आदमी की स्थिति पर विचार करता है। सम्भवतः वह सोचता होगा कि आदमी आज की दुनिया से विमुख क्यों हो गया है। वह शौचालय से बाहर आता है। फिर वह sink के पास जाता है। वह वहां कांपता है। ठंडा पानी उसके भूरे हाथों पर बहता है। पानी के कुछ बिन्दू (कतरे) उसकी कलाईयों पर सफेद बालों से चिपक

4. His sullen children have often refused to share
Jokes and secrets with him. He will now go to sleep
Listening to the static on the radio, dreaming
of his ancestors and grandchildren, thinking
of nomads entering a subcontinent through a narrow pass.

Word-Notes :
Sullen -ill-tempered ; Static-noise produced on the radio; Nomads wandering tribes moving from place to place.

Explanation:
The poet here says that the ill-tempered children do not talk with their father. They do not share their jokes and secrets with him. Now it is time for the old man to retire to his bed. He listens to some noise and music on the radio. He dreams of his ancestors and grandchildren. He thinks of wandering tribes moving along with their cattle from place to place. Probably the nomads are entering a subcontinent through a narrow passage in the mountains.

कवि यहाँ कहता है कि चिड़चिड़े बच्चे अपने पिता के साथ बात नहीं करते। वे उसके साथ अपने मज़ाक सांझा नहीं करते और न ही उसको अपने भेद बताते हैं। अब वृद्ध व्यक्ति के सोने का समय है। वह रेडियो पर कुछ संगीत सुनने की चेष्टा करता है। उसको रेडियो से शोर सुनाई देता है। फिर वह अपने पूर्वजों और पोतेपोतियों के बारे सपने देखता है। वह इधर से उधर घूमने वाली जन-जातियों के बारे सपने देखता है। सम्भवतः वे खानाबदोश लोग पर्वतों के संकीर्ण मार्ग में से होते हुए एक उपमहाद्वीप में प्रवेश कर रहे हैं।

Comprehension Of Stanzas

1. My father travels on the late evening train
Standing among silent commuters in the yellow light
Suburbs slide past his unseeing eyes
His shirt and pants are soggy and his black raincoats
Stained with mud and his bag stuffed with books
Is falling apart. His eyes dimmed by age
face homeward through the humid monsoon night.

Questions :
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) What is the condition of the eyes of the poet’s father ?
(c) What is wrong with the clothes of the commuter described by the poet ?
(d) What does the passage tell you about the weather in the late evening ?
Answers :
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Father Returning Home’. It is written by Dilip Chitre.
(b) His eyes are dimmed becauses of his old age.
(c) His clothes are a bit wet and soft.
(d) It is warm and damp.

2. Now I can see him getting off the train
Like a word dropped from a long sentence.
He hurries across the length of the grey platform,
Crosses the railway line, enters the lane.
His chappals are sticky with mud, but he hurries onward.

Questions :
(a) Name the poet and the poem.
(b) Give the figure of speech used in these lines :
Now I can see him getting off the train
Like a word dropped from a long sentence.
(c) What does the poet’s father do after crossing the railway line ?
(d) Do the sticky chappals of the poet’s father stand in the way of his hurrying forward ?
Answers :
(a) The name of the poet is Dilip Chitre and the name of the poem is ‘Father Returning Home’.
(b) Like a word dropped from a long sentence …………….. simile.
(c) He enters the lane.
(d) No, they don’t.

3. (Based on textual exercise)
(a) Which line in the poem describes father’s irrelevance to the train ?
(b) Write two reasons for father’s eyes being dimmed.
(c) Where does father go after getting off the train ?
Answers :
(a) Now I can see him getting off the train
Like a word dropped from a long sentence.
(b) His eyes are dimmed because of old age and humid monsoon night.
(c) After crossing the railway line he enters the lane where his home is situated.

4. His sullen children have refused to share
Jokes and secrets with him. He will now go to sleep
Listening to the static on the radio, dreaming
Of his ancestors and grandchildren, thinking
Of nomads entering a subcontinent through a narrow pass.

Questions :
(a) Explain the behaviour of the old man’s children towards him.
(b) What does he do after being written off by his children ?
(c) How can you say that his dream mirrors that the old man is either thinking about his past or future ?
(d) Draw a pen portrait of the poet’s father. (V. Imp.)
Answers :
(a) The children are indifferent to their father and they have refused to share their jokes and secrets with him.
(b) He goes to sleep listening to the radio which is accompanied with noise.
(c) He dreams of his ancestors and grandchildren.
(d) The poet’s father is a sad old man. He travels to work by a local train every day in Mumbai. He does not feel comfortable in his home or environment. He feels lonely even in a crowd. He is isolated from his family and friends. He is alienated from people. He lives in a world of his own dreams.

Father Returning Home Summary in English

Father Returning Home Introduction:

This poem has been taken from Dilip Chitre’s collection of poems. The title of the collection is ‘Travelling in a Cage’. It gives us the picture of a sad old man who travels to work by a local train every day in Mumbai. He does not feel comfortable in his environment. He feels lonely even in a crowd. His isolation is seen in his inability to have dialogue with his family or friends. He feels uneasy in his present. So the old man enters into the distant world of the past or into the world of his own dreams. The modern man seems to be alienated in a complex urban world.

Father Returning Home Summary in English:

This poem gives us the picture of the poet’s father who is an old man. He goes to work by a local train. He stands in the compartment among silent daily travellers (commuters) in the yellow light. Suburbs of the city pass by and he does not see them. He has dim eyes. His shirt and trousers have become wet and soft. His black raincoat is dirty because of mud fallen on it. His bag is stuffed with books.

The bag seems to be falling apart. His eyes are dim because of old age. Through the wet monsoon night, he is coming to his home. The poet sees his father getting off the train. He is coming alone. He looks like a word dropped from a long sentence. He walks quickly across the length of the grey platform. He then enters the lane where his house is situated. His chappals are sticky with mud. But he gogs on moving quickly.

He reaches his home. The poet sees his father drinking weak tea. He eats a stale chapati. He reads a book. Then he goes into the toilet to think over man’s disconnection from a man-made world. Old people feel that they are cut off from the rest of the world. He comes to the sink. He washes his hands. Some drops of water stick to the greying hair on his wrists. His bad-tempered children do not talk with him.

They have refused to share jokes and secrets with him. Now it is time for the old man to go to sleep. He listens to music on the radio. He dreams of his ancestors and grandchildren. He thinks of wandering tribes moving along with their animals from place to place. Probably the momads are entering a subcontinent through a narrow passage in the mountains.

Father Returning Home Summary in Hindi

Father Returning Home Introduction:

यह कविता दिलीप चित्रे की कविताओं के संग्रह से ली गई है । संग्रह का नाम है ‘Travelling in a Cage’ । यह कविता हमें एक उदास बूढ़े आदमी का चित्र प्रस्तुत करती है जो एक लोकल गाड़ी द्वारा हर रोज़ Mumbai में काम पर जाता है। उसे अपने वातावरण में बेचैनी सी महसूस होती है। वह अपने आप को लोगों की भीड़ में भी अकेला पाता है। उसका अलगाव इस बात में देखा जा सकता है कि वह किसी से बातचीत भी नहीं कर सकता। उसे वर्तमान समय में बेचैनी रहती है। इसलिए यह बूढ़ा व्यक्ति भूतकाल की दुनिया में दाखिल होता है या अपने सपनों की दुनिया में खो जाता है। वर्तमान युग का आदमी जटिल शहरी दुनिया से अलग-थलग रहता है।

Father Returning Home Summary in Hindi:

यह कविता हमें कवि के पिता का चित्र प्रस्तुत करती है जो कि एक बूढ़ा मनुष्य है। वह एक Local गाड़ी द्वारा अपने काम पर जाता है। वह गाड़ी के डिब्बे में दैनिक यात्रियों के मध्य में चुपचाप खड़ा रहता है और वहां पीली सी रोशनी होती है। उसकी गाड़ी उपनगरियों के पास से गुजरती जाती है और वह उ.को देखता तक नहीं। उसकी आँखों की रोशनी मद्धम हो गई है। उसकी कमीज़ और पतलुन गीली और नई पड गई हैं। उसका काले रंग का रेन-कोट गंदा हो गया है क्योंकि इसके ऊपर कीचड़ गिरा हुआ है।

उसका थेला पुस्तकों से भरा पड़ा है और यह फटता नज़र आता है। बूढ़ी अवस्था के कारण उसकी आँखों का प्रकाश मद्धम पड़ गया है। भीगी मानसून की रात में वह अपने घर की ओर आ रहा है। कवि अपने पिता को गाड़ी से उतरते हुए देखता है। वह अकेला आ रहा है। वह ऐसे लगता है जैसे कि एक लम्बे वाक्य में से एक शब्द को हटा दिया गया है। वह सलेटी रंग के प्लेटफार्म को तेज़ी से चलते हुए पार करता है। फिर वह उस तंग गली में दाखिल होता है जहां उसका घर स्थित है। उसकी चप्पलें भी कीचड़ लगने से चिपचिपी हो गई हैं। लेकिन वह तेजी से आगे चला जाता है।

वह अपने घर पहुँच जाता है। कवि अपने पिता को हल्की सी चाय पीते हुए देखता है। वह एक बासी चपाती खाता है। वह एक पुस्तक पढ़ता है। फिर वह शौचालय में चला जाता है और वह सोचने लगता है कि मनुष्य मनुष्य द्वारा बनाई गई दुनिया से अलग-थलग हो चुका है। बूढ़े लोग सोचते हैं कि वे बाकी ससार से कटे हुए हैं। वह sink के पास आता है। वह अपने हाथ धोता है। पानी के कुछ बिन्दू (कतरे ) उसकी कलाईयों के सफेद बालों पर गिरते हैं। उसके चिड़चिड़े बच्चे उसके साथ बात नहीं करते।

उन्होंने (बच्चों ने) उसके साथ मज़ाक सांझा करना या उसको गुप्त बातें बतानी बंद कर दी हैं। अब इस वृद्ध व्यक्ति के सोने का समय हो गया है। वह रेडियो पर संगीत जिसमें शोर भी होता है का आनन्द लेता है। वह अपने पूर्वजों और अपने पोते-पोतियों के बारे स्वप्न देखता है। वह उन जन-जातियों के बारे भी स्वप्न देखता है जो अपने पशुओं के साथ एक स्थान से दूसरे स्थान तक घूमते हुए जाते हैं। सम्भवतः खानाबदोश लोग पहाड़ों में एक संकीर्ण मार्ग से होते हुए एक उपमहाद्वीप में प्रवेश कर रहे हैं।

Father Returning Home Central Idea

The central idea of this poem is modern man’s alienation from the man-made world. This world is full of hurry and worry. Nobody has the time to take interest in others. The senior citizens are a neglected lot in society. The poem gives us a picture of a sad old man who travels to work by local train every day in the city of Mumbai. He does not feel comfortable or at home in his environment.

He feels lonely even in a crowd. His isolation is seen in his inability to have dialogue with his family or friends. He feels uneasy in his present. So the old man enters into the distant world of the past or into the world of his own dreams. The modern man is alienated in a complex urban world.

Father Returning Home Central Idea In Hindi

यह कविता एक आधुनिक आदमी का आदमी द्वारा बनाई हुई दुनिया से परायापन (बेगानगी) से सम्बन्ध रखती है। यह संसार शीघ्रता और चिन्ता से भरपूर है। दूसरे में रुचि लेने का किसी के पास समय नहीं है। वरिष्ठ नागरिकों की कोई परवाह नहीं करता। यह कविता एक उदास, वृद्ध व्यक्ति का चित्र प्रस्तुत करती है जोकि काम पर हर रोज़ Mumbai में Local गाड़ी द्वारा आता-जाता है।

उसे अपने वातावरण में कोई आराम या चैन उपलब्ध नहीं है। उसे भीड़ में भी अकेलापन महसूस होता है। अपने परिवार या मित्रों से वार्तालाप करने की अयोग्यता से उसका अलगाव प्रगट होता है। वर्तमान स्थिति में उसको बेचैनी रहती है। इसलिए वृद्ध व्यक्ति भूतकाल की दुनिया में प्रवेश करता है या वह अपने सपनों की दुनिया में शरण लेता है। आधुनिक काल का व्यक्ति जटिल शहरी दुनिया में परायापन में रहता है।

PSEB 12th Class English Solutions Chapter 8 Two Gentlemen of Verona

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Prasanna

Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions Chapter 8 Two Gentlemen of Verona Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

PSEB Solutions for Class 12 English Chapter 8 Two Gentlemen of Verona

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Explain in brief the conditions in which the two boys grew up.
संक्षेप में उन परिस्थितियों का वर्णन करें जिनमें दोनों लड़के बड़े हुए।
Answer:
The two boys led a very miserable life after the death of their widower father. In their childhood they lived a comfortable and cultured life. Their sister wanted to train as a singer. Their life became very miserable in the war. Their home was bombed in Verona, and completely destroyed. So they became homeless.

They had to suffer from starvation and exposure to the terrible winter in Verona. This made them angry. They became spies for the resistance group. They faced risks. They visited their sister every week in the hospital and paid her dues to the hospital. The author found the three siblings a happy family.

अपने विधुर बाप की मौत के बाद दोनों लड़कों का जीवन में दुःख था। इससे पहले अपने बचपन में वे आरामदेह और सुसंस्कृत जीवन व्यतीत करते थे। उनकी बहन एक गायिका बनना चाहती थी। जंग के दौरान उनका जीवन दुखद हो गया। उनका घर बमबारी से पूरी तरह ध्वस्त हो गया।

इस लिए वे बिल्कुल बेघर हो गये। उन्हें भुखमरी से पीड़ित होना पड़ा और Verona की सर्दी में उन्हें अनाश्रयता झेलनी पड़ी। इससे वे क्रुद्ध थे। वे खिलाफत समूह के लिए काम करते थे। उनको खतरों का सामना करना पड़ा। वे हर सप्ताह अपनी बहन को मिलने अस्पताल आते थे और अपनी बहन के इलाज का खर्च देते थे। लेखक ने महसूस किया कि तीनों बहन-भाई एक प्रसन्न परिवार था।

Question 2.
What I the message conveyed by the story, Two Gentlemen of Verona’ ? (Imp.)
‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ कहानी क्या संदेश देती है?
Answer:
The message of the story is clear. Care of one’s sister strengthens the family ties. Care for the sick and suffering would make the world a better place to live in. The two young boys have set a glorious example of noble conduct for others to follow. Such a sacrifice develops values which are good for the health of society.

कहानी का उद्देश्य स्पष्ट है। अपनी बहन की देखभाल करने से परिवार के रिश्ते दृढ़ होते है। रोग से पीड़ित और दुःखी लोगों की देखभाल करने से यह संसार रहने के लिए अच्छा बन जायेगा। दो किशोर लड़कों ने उत्तम व्यवहार का शानदार उदाहरण पेश किया है जिस का दूसरे अनुसरण करेंगे। इस तरह का बलिदान ऐसे मूल्यों को विकसित करता है जो समाज की सेहत के लिए अच्छे होते हैं।

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Draw a brief character sketch of the two boys in the story.
कहानी में दोनों लड़कों का संक्षिप्त चरित्र चित्रण करो।
Answer:
Nicola and Jacopo were two brothers. Their widower father died in the war. Their house was bombed. So they were homeless and orphans. Their sister was in the hospital suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. They led wretched lives. They sold newspapers and fruit. They carried messages for others and took the tourists to places of tourist interest in Verona.

Their tender age and small size made them very serviceable. The two boys were devoted to their sister. They earned money by all sorts of work to pay the expenses of their sister in the hospital. The writer looked upon them as a happy family. Their selfless service of their sister gave promise of a greater hope for human society.

Nicola और Jacopo दो भाई थे। उनका विधुर बाप जंग में मारा गया। उनके घर पर बमबारी की गई। इस लिए वे बेघर हो गए और अनाथ थे। उनकी बहन अस्पताल में दाखिल कर ली गई क्योंकि वह रीढ़ की हड्डी की T.B. से पीड़ित थी। उनका जीवन शोकसन्तप्त था। वे अखबार और फल बेचते थे। वे दूसरों के लिए संदेश लेकर जाते थे और पर्यटकों को Verona में पर्यटन के देखने योग्य स्थानों पर लेकर जाया करते थे।

उनकी छोटी आयु और छोटे कद ने उन्हें बड़ा उपयोगी बना दिया। दोनों लड़के अपनी बहन के प्रति समर्पित थे। वे कई प्रकार के काम करके अपनी बहन के लिए अस्तपताल में इलाज के लिए पैसे देते थे। लेखक उनको एक प्रसन्न परिवार समझता था। उनकी अपनी बहन की नि:स्वार्थ सेवा मानवीय समाज के लिए एक बड़ी आशा का संकेत और वायदा था।

Question 2.
Write the theme of the story, ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona, in your own words. (V. Imp.)
Two Gentlemen of Verona कहानी का विषय-वस्तु अपने शब्दों में लिखो।
Answer:
This story is based on the theme that selfless action brings a new nobility into human life. It gives a promise of a greater hope for human society. The author finds the two boys involved in an exemplary action of self-sacrifice for their sister. The message is clear.

Care of one’s sister strengthens the family ties. Care for the sick and suffering would make the world a better place to live in. What we see in the world is that selfishness is the order of the day. The two young boys have set a glorious example of noble conduct for others to follow. Such a sacrifice develops values which are good for the health of society.

यह कहानी इस विषय पर आधारित है कि निःस्वार्थ काम मानवीय जीवन में एक नई श्रेष्ठता लाता है। यह इन्सानी समाज के लिए एक बड़ी आशा लाता है। लेखक देखता है कि दो लड़के अपनी बहन के लिए नि:स्वार्थ सेवा के आदर्श कार्य में व्यस्त हैं। संदेश स्पष्ट है।

अपनी बहन की देखभाल करने से परिवार के बन्धन मज़बूत हो जाते हैं। रोग से पीड़ित और दुःखी लोगों की देखभाल करने से यह संसार रहने के लिए अच्छा बन जायेगा। हम संसार में जो देखते हैं वह यह है कि दुनिया मतलब की यारी है। दो किशोरों ने अच्छे आचरण का ऐसा उदाहरण पेश कर दिया है जिसका दूसरे अनुसरण करेंगे। ऐसा बलिदान, ऐसी मान्यताएं पैदा करता है जो कि समाज के स्वास्थ्य के लिए अच्छी होती हैं।

Objective Type Questions

This question will consist of 3 objective type questions carrying one mark each. These objective questions will include questions to be answered in one word to one-sentence or fill in the blank or true/false or multiple choice type questions.

Question 1.
What were the jobs that the two boys undertook ?
Answer:
They polished shoes, sold fruit, hawked newspapers, conducted tourists round the town and ran errands.

Question 2.
Describe the physical appearance of both the boys.
Answer:
The two brothers were little figures with their brown skins, tangled hair and earnest eyes Jacopo was lively as a squirrel and Nicola had an attractive smile.

Question 3.
How were the two boys useful for the narrator and his friend in many ways ?
Answer:
They were useful in getting them American chocolates, booking seats for the opera or telling the name of a good restaurant etc.

Question 4.
Why did the two boys work endlessly ?
Answer:
They worked very hard to pay for the treatment of their sister suffering from tuberculosis of the spine.

Question 5.
Where did the narrator drive the two boys ?
Answer:
He drove them to a village beyond Poleta to enable them to see their sister in the hospital.

Question 6.
Who was the woman at the village ?
Answer:
She was a pleasant-looking trained nurse.

Question 7.
What made the narrator follow the boys ?
Answer:
The narrator followed the boys Nicola and Jacopo to see whom they were visiting.

Question 8.
What did. Lucia aspire to be ?
Answer:
She aspired to be a singer.

Question 9.
Why was the narrator deeply moved ?
Answer:
He was deeply moved by the two boys’ devotion to their sick sister.

Question 10.
What made the two brothers and their sister orphans ?
Answer:
They were the children of a widower killed in the war and the destruction of their home made them orphans.

Question 11.
What is the message conveyed by the two boys in the story ? Write in your own words. (Imp.)
Answer:
The message is : Care of one’s sister strengthens family ties; care for the sick and suffering would make the world a better place to live in.

Question 12.
Name the two boys who are the two gentlemen of Verona in the title of the story.
Answer:
Nicola and Jacopo.

Question 13.
What does the story tell you about the father of the two boys ?
Answer:
He was a famous singer, killed during the war.

Question 14.
To which place did the boys request the narrator to take them ?
Answer:
Poleta.

Question 15.
Choose one of the options about the sister of the boys :
(i) She wanted to be a dancer.
(ii) She wanted to be a singer.
(iii) She wanted to be an actress.
(iv) She wanted to be a model.
Answer:
(ii) She wanted to be a singer.

Question 16.
What did the boys find in the quality of their life when German Elite Guards came to their town ? Write your answer in two words.
Answer:
More wretched.

Question 17.
Choose the correct option of the disease from which Lucia was suffering :
(i) Cholera
(ii) Cancer
(iii) Epilepsy
(iv) Tuberculosis.
Answer:
(iv) Tuberculosis.

Question 18.
Name the writer of the story.
Answer:
A.J. Cronin.

Question 19.
What was attractive about Nicola ?
Answer:
His smile.

Question 20.
With whom has Jacopo been compared ?
Answer:
With a squirrel.

Question 21.
What had Lucia been suffering from ?
Answer:
She had been suffering from consumption of the spine.

Question 22.
Verona is a place in one of these countries :
(a) Spain
(b) Ireland
(c) Italy
(d) Germany.
Answer:
(c) Italy.

Question 23.
Name the two brothers in the story ‘Two Gentlemen of Verona :
(a) Nicola and Jacopo
(b) Ronaldo and Nicola
(c) Alberto and Ronaldo
(d) Jacopo and Ronaldo
Answer:
(a) Nicola and Jacopo.

Question 24.
Lucia had a desire to be one of these :
(a) Doctor
(b) Singer
(c) Model
(d) Teacher.
Answer:
(b) Singer

Two Gentlemen of Verona Summary in English

Two Gentlemen of Verona Introduction:

The title of this story has been taken from one of the plays of William Shakespeare. The author describes the life of two small boys who love their sister. They are Nicola and Jacopo. They work very hard so that they could pay for the treatment of their sister suffering from tuberculosis (T.B.). The boys’ sacrifice for their sister gives a new hope for society.

Two Gentlemen of Verona Summary in English:

‘Two Gentlemen of Verona’ is the story of two brothers, Nicola and Jacopo. They belong to Verona in Italy. (Shakespeare wrote a play of the same title). Nicola is thirteen and Jacopo is twelve. The narrator and his friend meet them when they are driving through the foothills of Alps. They buy a basket of strawberries from them. Then they go to the hotel.

The driver of the narrator told him not to buy fruit from the boys. They would be able to get better fruit in Verona. The next morning they find the two boys at the public square. The boys tell the narrator that they do all sorts of work including guiding tourists. The narrator tells the boys to take him and his friend around the city. They also feel impressed by their manners and behaviour. Despite their untidy clothes, they leave a good impression on the narrator and his friend.

One night, the narrator and his friend see the boys at a deserted square. They were resting on a pavement stone. They are waiting for the last bus from Padua so that they can sell the newspapers. Both the brothers look tired. They are as usual in unclean clothes. The narrator asks them the reason for their not being dressed in clean clothes and for not eating well.

The narrator had thought that the boys were saving money to travel to the States. But the boys tell him that they are not interested in going to the States. They have something else in their mind. They ask the narrator if he can take them to Poleta in his car. The narrator agrees.

They drive down to Poleta the next afternoon. The narrator finds them entering a villa. They tell him that they will stay in the villa for an hour or so and that he can go to a cafe for a drink. After some time, the narrator rings the bell of the villa. A nurse opens the door.

He asks her about two young boys who have just gone to the house. She takes the narrator along and the narrator finds himself in a hospital. He finds Japoco and Nicola sitting at the bedside of their sister. He requests the nurse to tell him everything about the two boys. The nurse tells him their story.

The narrator comes to know that the two boys and their sister are the children of a well-known singer at La Scala who was killed during the war. Their house was destroyed and the children had to suffer all kinds of hardships. The German Elite Guards came to their town and their life became more wretched.

The boys joined the resistance movement. They carried errands (messages) to its leaders and informed them of the movements of German troops. Their sister Lucia was suffering from tuberculosis of the spine. She had been in the hospital for the last 12 months. Her brothers visited her in the hospital every week to clear the dues.

The narrator then waits for the boys. He drives them back to the city. He does not tell them what he has learnt about their sister and her ailment. He is impressed by their selfless devotion to their sister. He feels that the selfless devotion to their sister brings new nobility to human life. The young boys’ selfless service of their sister was an indication of the selfless service of the human society.

Two Gentlemen of Verona Summary in Hindi

Two Gentlemen of Verona Introduction:

इस कहानी का शीर्षक William Shakespeare के नाटक से लिया गया है। लेखक दो छोटे लड़कों के जीवन की कहानी बताता है। वे अपनी बहन से प्यार करते हैं। उनके नाम हैं Nicola और Japoco । वे बहुत परिश्रम करते हैं ताकि वे अपनी बहन के इलाज के लिए पैसे दे सकें। उनकी बहन spine की T.B. (तपेदिक) से पीड़ित है। लड़कों का अपनी बहन के लिए बलिदान समाज के लिए एक नई आशा का संकेत है।

Two Gentlemen of Verona Summary in Hindi:

Two Gentlemen of Verona दो भाईयों Nicola और Jacopo की कहानी है। वे इटली के Verona नगर के रहने वाले हैं। Nicola 13 साल का है और Japoco 12 साल का है। कहानी का वर्णनकर्ता और उसका मित्र उनको तब मिलते हैं जब वे Alps पर्वत की पादगिरी की पहाड़ियों से गाड़ी चलाकर जा रहे हैं। वे उनसे strawberry (हिसालू) का टोकरा खरीदते हैं। फिर वे होटल में चले जाते हैं। वर्णनकर्ता के ड्राईवर ने अपने मालिक को कहा कि वह उनसे strawberry न खरीदे। उनको Verona में इससे बेहतर फल मिल जायेंगे।

अगले दिन प्रातः के समय उनको दोनों लड़के एक Public Square (वर्गाकार भवन-समूह) में मिलते हैं। लड़के वर्णनकर्ता (लेखक) को बताते हैं कि वे हर प्रकार का काम करते हैं और वे tourists (पर्यटकों) के लिए Tourist Guide का भी काम करते हैं। लेखक लड़कों को कहता है कि वे उसको और उसके मित्र को नगर में घुमायें। वे उनके शिष्टाचार और आचरण से बहुत प्रभावित होते हैं।

अपने गंदे कपड़ों के बावजूद लड़के (Nicola और Japoco) लेखक और उसके मित्र पर अच्छा प्रभाव डालने में सफल हो जाते हैं। . एक रात लेखक और उसका मित्र लड़कों को एक सुनसान square (वर्गाकार) में देखते हैं। वे एक फुटपाथ के एक पत्थर पर आराम कर रहे हैं। वे Padua से आने वाली अन्तिम बस की प्रतीक्षा कर रहे हैं ताकि वे अखबार

बेच सकें। वे थके-थके नज़र आते हैं। उन्होंने नियमानुसार गंदे कपड़े पहने हुए थे। लेखक उन्हें पूछता है कि उन्होंने गन्दे कपड़े क्यों पहने हुए थे और वे पेट भर कर अच्छी तरह खाना क्यों नहीं खाते थे। लेखक का विचार था कि वे पैसे बचा रहे थे ताकि वे अमेरिका जा सकें। लेकिन लड़के लेखक को बताते हैं कि उन्हें अमेरिका जाने में कोई रुचि नहीं है। उनके दिमाग़ में तो और ही कोई बात है। वे लेखक को पूछते हैं क्या वह उनको अपनी गाड़ी में Poleta ले जा सकता है। लेखक उनको ले जाने के लिए सहमत हो जाता है। अगले दिन वे अपराह्न कार में बैठ कर Poleta पहुंच जाते हैं।

वे लेखक को बताते हैं कि वे घर (villa) में एक घंटा या कुछ देर के लिए ठहरेंगे और लेखक को वे कहते हैं कि वह चाय पानी के लिए cafe में जा सकता है। कुछ देर बाद लेखक उनके villa की घंटी बजाता है। एक नर्स दरवाजा खोलती है। लेखक उसको दो लड़कों के बारे में पूछता है जो कि अभी-अभी घर में प्रवेश किए हैं। वह लेखक को अपने साथ ले जाती है। लेखक अपने आपको अस्पताल में पाता है। वह Nicola और Jacopo को अपनी बहन के बिस्तर पर बैठे हुए देखता है। वह नर्स से याचना करता है कि वह उसे दोनों लड़कों के बारे में सब कुछ बताये। नर्स लेखक को उनकी कहानी बता देती है।

लेखक को पता चलता है कि दो लड़के और उनकी बहन La Scala की एक प्रसिद्ध गायिका के बच्चे हैं जो कि युद्ध के दौरान मारी गई थी। उसका घर तबाह हो गया और बच्चों को हर प्रकार का कष्ट उठाना पड़ा। इसके बाद German Elite Guard से उनका सामना हो गया। फिर उनके शहर और उनका अपना जीवन दुर्भाग्य या बदनसीबी वाला हो गया। लड़के खिलाफत आन्दोलन में भर्ती हो गये।

वे खिलाफत आन्दोलन के नेताओं के पास संदेश लेकर जाते थे और वे उनको जर्मन सेनाओं के बारे में बताते थे। उनकी बहन Lucia रीढ़ की हड्डी की T.B. के रोग से ग्रस्त थी। वह अस्पताल में 12 महीनों से रहती आ रही थी। उसके भाई उसकी बीमारी पर खर्च होने का हिसाब करके हर सप्ताह पैसे दिया करते थे।

लेखक फिर लड़कों की प्रतीक्षा करता है। वह उनको फिर अपनी कार में शहर ले जाता है। वह उनको यह नहीं बताता है कि उसने उनकी बहन के बारे में क्या पता लगाया है। अपनी बहन के लिए उनके निःस्वार्थ बलिदान से लेखक बहत प्रभावित होता है और वह महसूस करता है कि इस तरह की सेवा और बलिदान से इन्सानी जीवन में एक नई श्रेष्ठता आ जाती है। अपनी बहन के लिए बिना स्वार्थ सेवा से इनकी कहानी इन्सानी समाज में निष्काम सेवा का एक अच्छा. उदाहरण है।

Word Meanings:

PSEB 12th Class English Solutions Chapter 8 Two Gentlemen of Verona 1

PSEB 12th Class English Grammar Determiners

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Bhagya

Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions English Grammar Determiners Exercise Questions and Answers, Notes.

PSEB 12th Class English Grammar Determiners

A word qualifying a head word is known as a determiner. Words like a, an, the, that, his, her, my and some are determiners. In grammar, a determiner is a word that is used before a noun to select which instance of the noun you are talking about or to identify it. Determiners are fixing words that determine precisely the meaning of the nouns with which they are used. See the table:

अंग्रेज़ी भाषा में कुछ शब्द ऐसे हैं जिन्हें संज्ञाओं से पहले लगाया जाता है। ये शब्द संज्ञाओं को निश्चित व निर्धारित करने के लिए लगाए जाते हैं। इन शब्दों को Determiners कहते हैं। ये सोलह शब्द हैं-
Determiners तानी डाला हित मतिरे सवर उत निठां ? Nouns 3 पग्लिा प्लाष्टिका मांसा चै । प्टिव ਸ਼ਬਦ Nouns ਨੂੰ ਨਿਸਚਿਤ ਤੇ ਨਿਰਧਾਰਿਤ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਲਾਏ ਜਾਂਦੇ ਹਨ । ਇਹ ਸੋਲਾਂ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਹਨ-
this, these, that, those, my, your, his, her, its, our, there, some, any, a, an, the.
PSEB 12th Class English Grammar Determiners 1

Articles. Articles ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ can also be used as Determiners.
Determiners are of various kinds:
1. Demonstratives – this, that, these, those.
2. Possessives – my, our, your, his, her, its, their, Mohan’s, one’s.
3. Determiners of Quantity – much, more, some, any.
4. Articles – a, an, the are also determiners.

1. Demonstrative Determiners – This, that, these, those.

This house is Gopal’s.
That clinic is Dr. Raman’s.
These books will be sent to the library.
Those flats will be allotted to us.

2. Possessive Determiners.

My brother is a pilot.
Our leaders work for their own kith and kin.
Your performance is very good.
His room is very dirty.
Swami’s father forbade Swami to wander in the sun.
His house is spacious.
My coat is black in colour.
Its pocket is torn.

3. Determiners of Quantity (“some” and “any”).
Some has positive and any has negative implications. Questions with negative implications also have “any”. But questions with positive implications take “some”.

Have you any money ?
No, I don’t have any.
Will you take some more milk ?
Yes, I will.

4. Articles a, an and the are also used as determiners.

Here was a possibility.
What is the matter ?
He did not know the necessary symptoms.
He wanted to hold the tooth in reserve.

Note : Our readers should note that all textual exercises on the grammatical items prescribed in the syllabus have been solved at the appropriate places in MBD Guide.

Exercise 1

Fill up the blanks with determiners:

1. ………… watch is broken.
2. ………… of the boys will get a prize.
3. I have not ………… time.
4. There are ………… books on the table.
5. Please give me ………… milk.
6. I do not have ………… money these days.
7. Did not she give you ………… biscuits ?
8. ………… girl will top the list this year also.
9. ………… boys will do well.
10. ………… businessmen make a lot of money.
11. Send ………… student to get the stamps.
12. ………… boy of this class can read it.
13. Give me ………… more juice.
14. There are ………… good books in our library.
Answer:
1. This
2. Each
3. much
4. some
5. some
6. any
7. some
8. Some
9. Some
10. Some
11. any
12. Any
13. some
14. some.

Exercise 2

Fill up the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. ………… egg on the table was thrown away.
2. He has not ………… pen to give you.
3. ………… men are not equal.
4. There is ………… sugar in the tin. You may use it.
5. I have told you ………… hundred times not to come here.
6. There are not ………… buses because the drivers have gone on a strike.
7. Would you like to have ………… coffee ?
8. As ………… patients came into the room, he switched on the fan.
9. He has not eaten ………… food since morning.
10. John refused to give his brother ………… more money.
11. Can you see ………… ants moving on the flower ?
12. ………… teacher can tell you that learning English is not an easy job.
13. Is there ………… food left in the plate ?
14. He has not ………… time to spare.
15. Have you had ………… attacks of malaria ?
16. We can expect ………… more mosquitoes after continued falls of rain.
17. I have not read all the books, but I have read …………
18. Not ………… people like being advised by others.
19. Now the school has ………… pupils than ever before.
20. I exhibited ………… brute in me.
Answer:
1. The
2. a
3. All
4. some
5. a
6. any
7. some
8. more
9. any
10. any.
11. some
12. The
13. any
14. much
15. any
16. some
17. some
18 many
19. more
20. the.

Exercise 3

Fill up the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. ………… road leads to Amritsar.
2. ………… infant cannot look after itself.
3. The beggar was grateful for ………… bread Rani gave him.
4. ………… dinner served at the wedding was not delicious.
5. ………… crow and the owl belong to the same family of birds.
6. He bought ………… mangoes.
7. There are not ………… flowers in the garden now.
8. If you have ………… doubts, please ask your teacher.
9. Will you bring ………… fruit for me ?
10. My elder son first went to ………… school when he was four.
11. He was sent to ………… prison for murdering a man.
12. Do you need ………… help again ?
13. I have ………… pen and a pencil.
14. Moscow is ………… capital of Russia.
15. Rohit has a radio and ………… TV.
16. He has read it in ………… magazine or the other.
17. A good quality is called ………… virtue.
18. It is a very bad mistake to use ‘a’ with ………… plural noun.
Answer:
1. This
2. An
3. the
4. The
5. The
6. some
7. any
8. any
9. any
10. the.
11. the
12. a little
13. a
14. the
15. a
16. some
17. a
18. a.

Exercise 4 (Textual)

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. I have ………… friends in the city.
2. ………… umbrella is ………… useful thing.
3. ………… a man has died of cholera.
4. ………… children go to school everyday.
5. Did you see ………… elephants in the forest ?
6. She is proud of ………… beauty.
7. ………… plant is dying.
8. ………… the girls are present today.
9. She did not send me ………… reply.
10. ………… man is expected to do his best.
Answer:
1. many
2. An, a
3. Many
4. These
5. any
6. her
7. That
8. All
9. any
10. Every.

Exercise 5

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. He has got ………… bread.
2. How ………… milk do you take daily ?
3. ………… knowledge is a dangerous thing.
4. There is ………… sugar in stock.
5. He gave away ………… money he had in charity.
6. He has broken ………… slate that you bought yesterday.
7. ………… the students are present in the class.
8. I do not have ………… spare pen.
9. ………… body must have his own book.
10. ………… houses are newly built.
Answer:
1. some
2. much
3. A little
4. much
5. the little
6. the
7. All
8. any
9. Every
10. These.

Exercise 6

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. Keep to ………… left.
2. Where shall I send ………… fare ?
3. I need ………… money.
4. Can you catch ………… butterfly ?
5. How ………… experience have you got ?
6. He is ………… best boy in the class.
7. Kindly show me ………… pens.
8. I did not buy ………… trousers from the market.
9. There are shady trees on ………… side of the road.
10. How ………… ink is there in the bottle ?
Answer:
1. the
2. the
3. some
4. this
5. much
6. the
7. some
8. any
9. either
10. much.

Exercise 7

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. He did not make ………… mistakes in his essay.
2. I have lost appetite, so I did not eat ………… bananas.
3. I must sign ………… will.
4. When I think of India, I think of ………… things.
5. ………… of people go without food in India everyday.
6. She said, ………… pen is mightier than the sword.”
7. ………… book you want is not with me.
8. ………… houses were damaged in the cyclone.
9. I shall return this book in ………… days.
10. I had put in ………… hard work.
Answer:
1. any
2. any
3. the
4. many
5. A lot
6. The
7. The
8. Many
9. a few
10. much.

Exercise 8

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. It did not hurt ………… a bit.
2. I covered ………… face and wept.
3. I want ………… title of first Admiral.
4. Who is ………… head of your family ?
5. ………… Ganga is a sacred river.
6. How ………… girls are there in your class ?
7. She toiled up ………… hill.
8. It seemed ………… endless time.
9. Always speak ………… truth.
10. I dismissed him ………… some money.
Answer:
1. me
2. my
3. the
4. the
5. The
6. many
7. the
8. an
9. the
10. with.

Exercise 9

Use suitable determiners in the blanks:

1. I saw ………… girls swimming in the pool.
2. I did not see ………… film last week.
3. He failed to answer ………… questions.
4. Do you have ………… difficulty ?
5. Meet me ………… time you like.
6. Will you make ………… tea for me ?
7. He gave me ………… money.
8. Did he give you ………… information ?
9. ………… cheerleaders were dressed in swimming dresses.
10. ………… women can keep a secret.
Answer:
1. some
2. any
3. some
4. any
5. any
6. some
7. some
8. any
9. The
10. Few.

Exercise 10

Use suitable determiners in the blanks:

1. Can you bring me ………… water to drink ?
2. I am in possession of ………… money in my bank.
3. He has ………… enemies.
4. Did you make ………… mistake in the letter ?
5. ………… a lady is present in the hall.
6. ………… ladies are present in the hall.
7. ………… of what you say is trash.
8. Gayatri is a polyglot because she knows ………… languages.
9. I had to face ………… music.
10. This room has ………… doors.
Answer:
1. some
2. little
3. no
4. any
5. Many
6. Many
7. Much
8. many
9. the
10. two.

Exercise 11

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. How ………… money do you want ?
2. All ………… books are lying at sixes and sevens.
3. He lost ………… friends he had.
4. There is ………… milk in the jug.
5. I have ………… work to do.
6. ………… people paid homage to the departed leader.
7. ………… grapes are sweet and juicy.
8. He related ………… interesting story.
9. Jaspreet is ………… taller of them both.
10. Both ………… sons are thieves.
Answer:
1. much
2. the
3. the few
4. little
5. much
6. Several
7. These
8. an
9. the
10. his.

Exercise 12

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. ………… member of the party was garlanded.
2. Is there ………… news ?
3. ………… father was a famous physician.
4. ………… horse runs very fast.
5. ………… books lie scattered in the room.
6. Please lend me ………… money.
7. She has ………… daughters.
8. Consult your doctor in case of ………… difficulty.
9. ………… girls are still writing the answer.
10. Only ………… persons came to witness the match.
Answer:
1. Every
2. any
3. My
4. That
5. Her
6. some
7. two
8. any
9. Some
10. a few.

Exercise 13

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. Do you have ………… doubt in your mind ?
2. God has created ………… universe.
3. I have ………… good books.
4. Ujwal Puri is going out with ………… Chinese girl.
5. I never have ………… luck with the lottery.
6. Have you got ………… money ?
7. How ………… milk do you need ?
8. ………… time has passed now.
9. I have ………… expectations from anyone.
10. ………… list of new books has been released.
11. ………… road leads to Ajnala.
12. Singing is ………… passion.
13. He tore away ………… resignation letter.
14. She threw her arms around ………… baby.
15. She wrote ………… letter quickly.
Answer:
1. any
2. the
3. many
4. a
5. any
6. any
7. much
8. much
9. no
10. a
11. This
12. my
13. his
14. her
15. a.

Exercise 14

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. Have you got ………… Pakistani friends ?
2. No, I haven’t got ………… Pakistani friends ?
3. He has ………… riend at all.
4. She has ………… best friend. They spend all their time together.
5. I have hardly ………… money left.
6. Have you got ………… money ?
7. Would you like ………… more orange juice ?
8. He lives ………… where in London. It does not matter to us.
9. I’m not looking for ………… in particular.
10. There are ………… animals in this zoo.
11. Is there ………… message for me ?
Answer:
1. any
2. any
3. no
4. a
5. any
6. some
7. some
8. some
9. anyone
10. many
11. any.

Exercise 15

Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:

1. Where shall I send ………… packet ?
2. He sat on ………… seat beside his bed.
3. Shobha knows ………… languages.
4. Hassan lost ………… little sympathy the teacher had for him.
5. How ………… money does he need ?
6. ………… the papers were lying on the floor.
7. There was hardly ………… effort by Hassan to overcome his bad habits.
8. We have ………… things to finish before we go.
9. I had to take ………… responsibility.
10. The big hall has ………… windows.
Answer:
1. this
2. the
3. many
4. the
5. the
6. any
7. many
8. many
9. the
10. many

PSEB 12th Class English Solutions Poem 5 Cheerfulness Taught By Reason

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024 by Prasanna

Punjab State Board PSEB 12th Class English Book Solutions Poem 5 Cheerfulness Taught By Reason Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

PSEB Solutions for Class 12 English Poem 5 Cheerfulness Taught By Reason

1. I think we are too ready with complaint
In this fair world of God. Had we no hope
Indeed beyond the zenith and this slope
Of yon gray and blank of sky, we might grow faint.
To muse upon eternity’s constraint
Round our aspirant souls.

Word-Notes :
Too ready-always ready. Fair world-beautiful world. Zenith-the highest point that the sun or moon reaches in the sky, directly above you. Faintunconscious, very weak.

Explanation:
The poetess says that we are always ready to have some complaint in this beautiful world made by God. If we had no hope to see the vast sky between the highest point over our heads and the slope, then we may have reason to feel upset or even very much disturbed. We might feel weak or upset thinking of the restraint imposed by eternity on man. But this is not so.

कवयित्री कहती है कि हम परमात्मा द्वारा बनाई गई दुनिया के विरुद्ध कोई न कोई शिकवा या शिकायत रखते हैं। यदि हमें चरम बिन्दु (पराकाष्ठा) और ढाल के बीच विस्तृत आकाश नज़र न आये तो हो सकता है हम भीरु या कमजोर बन जायें। शायद हम भविष्य द्वारा मनुष्य पर लगाये प्रतिबंध के बारे में सोच कर कमज़ोर और परेशान हो जायें। लेकिन ऐसा नहीं होता।

2. To muse upon eternity’s constraint
Round our aspirant souls, but since the scope
Must widen early, is it well to droop,
For a few days consumed in loss and taint ?

Word-Notes :
Muse upon-think of. Eternity-future life, everlasting period. Scopeability for improvement.

Explanation:
Here the poetess says that one should be optimistic in life. If we have no hope to see the vast sky between the highest point above our heads and the slope, we might grow upset or weak. We might start thinking over the restrictions imposed by the future on our ambition of aspiring souls. We should not go on thinking of some loss. We have vast scope for improvement. We should not be pessimistic. It does not help us at all if we are worried about our loss for a few days.

यहां कवयित्री कहती है कि हमें जीवन में आशावादी होना चाहिए। यदि हमें चरम बिंदु (पराकाष्ठा) और ढाल के बीच विस्तृत आकाश नज़र न आये तो हो सकता है हम भीरू या कमज़ोर बन जायें। हो सकता है कि हम उन प्रतिबन्धों के बारे सोचना शुरू कर दें जो भविष्य द्वारा हम पर लागू किये गये हैं। हमें किसी प्रकार की हानि के बारे सोचते नहीं रहना चाहिये। सुधार के लिए हमारे पास विस्तृत क्षेत्र है। हमें निराश नहीं होना चाहिये। इससे हमें रत्ती भर भी सहायता नहीं मिलती यदि हम कुछ दिनों की अपनी हानि के बारे चिन्तित रहें।

3. O Pusillanimous Heart, be comforted
And, like cheerful traveller, take the road
Singing beside the hedge. What if thy bread
Be bitter in thine inn, and thou unshod
To meet the flints ? At least it may be said
Because the way is short, I thank thee, God.

Word-Notes :
Pusillanimous—cowardly. Beside—by the side of. Hedge—a group of bushes or small trees planted along the edge of a field or road. Inn—hotel or house. Thine-your. Unshod-without shoes. Thee-you. Flints-very hard grey stones.

Explanation:
The poetess addresses a man with a cowardly heart. She tells the person to feel comfortable and at ease. He should undertake his journey like a cheerful traveller. He should walk along the road and go on singing happily. It does not matter if the food in his house or hotel is bitter and he is without shoes to walk on the stony road. He should be thankful to God that he has to cover a short distance to reach his destination.

कवयित्री एक कमज़ोर दिल वाले व्यक्ति को संबोधित करती है। वह कहती है कि उसे निश्चिन्त महसूस करना चाहिए और उसे ब्रेफिक्र होना चाहिए। उसे एक प्रसन्नचित्त यात्री की तरह अपनी यात्रा करनी चाहिए। उसे प्रसन्नता से सड़क पर गाते हुए चलना चाहिये। उसे इस बात की बिल्कुल परवाह नहीं करनी चाहिये कि उसके घर या होटल का भोजन कड़वा है और पथरीली सड़क पर चलने के लिए उसके पाँव में जूते नहीं हैं। उसको परमात्मा का धन्यवादी होना चाहिए क्योंकि गन्तव्य पर पहुँचने के लिए उसको थोड़े फासले पर ही चलना है।

Comprehension Of Stanzas

1. I think we are too ready with complaint.
In this fair world of God’s.
Had we no hope Indeed beyond the zenith and the slope
Of yon gray blank of sky, we might grow faint
To muse upon eternity’s constraint
Round our aspirant souls.

Questions :
(a) According to the poet, what are we too ready to do ?
(b) How should man conduct himself in his life ?
(c) Why should we hope beyond the zenith and the slope of yon gray blank of sky?
(d) Write the rhyme scheme followed by the poet in the first four lines of the stanza.
Answers :
(a) We are ready to complain about this beautiful world created by God.
(b) He should have an optimistic outlook in life.
(c) We should hope beyond the zenith and the slope of yon gray blank of sky in order to avoid disappointment.
(d) The rhyme scheme is : ab ba.

2. But since the scope
Must widen early, is it well to droop
For a few days consumed in loss and taint ?

Questions :
(a) Name the poem and the poet.
(b) Explain : Is it well to droop
For a few days consumed in loss and taint ?
(c) What lesson does the poetess seek to give in these lines ?
(d) Explain : The scope must widen early.
Answers :
(a) The name of the poem is ‘Cheerfulness Taught by Reason’ written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
(b) It is not wise to feel disappointed and depressed if we have a few setbacks through loss and damage. We must have a cheerful outlook on life.
(c) We should learn to take temporary setbacks and failures in our stride.
(d) We must believe that every midnight has a budding morrow. (Raat Bhar ka hai mehman andhera Kiske rokay ruka hai savera)

3. O Pusillanimous Heart, be comforted
And, like cheerful traveller, take the road
Singing beside the hedge.

Questions :
(a) Name the poet and the poem.
(b) Which figure of speech is used in the above lines ?
(c) Pusillanimous Heart is :
(i) the heart that is enjoying life.
(ii) the heart that is frightened to take risks.
(iii) the heart that is ready to take risks.
(d) In which manner should one move on a journey ?
Answers :
(a) The name of the poet is Elizabeth Barrett Browning and the name of the poem is Cheerfulness Taught by Reason.
(b) Pusillanimous Heart ………. Personification.
And, like cheerful traveller, take the road ……………. simile.

4. What if the bread
Be bitter in thine inn, and thou unshod
To meet the flints ? At least it may be said,
‘Because the way is short, I thank thee, God.‘

Questions :
(a) What are the two complaints in the above lines ?
(b) The poet asks us to be …………. in life. (careful, alert, optimistic)
(c) …………….. and thou unshod to meet the flints ?
(i) Meeting people during the journey.
(ii) Walking on a stony path without shoes.
(d) Why should we thank God ?
Answers :
(a) The two complaints are :
(i) The bread in our inn iş bitter.
(ii) We have to walk on a stony path without shoes.
(b) optimistic
(c) walking on a stony path without shoes.
(d) We should thank God because we have to walk a very short distance.

Cheerfulness Taught By Reason Summary in English

Cheerfulness Taught By Reason Introduction:

It is a short poem. But it has a big idea. It tells man to be optimistic in life. It is no use complaining about what we do not have. We should be thankful to God for what we have. One should have a brave heart to accept things as they are. We should not go on complaining that our path is full of stones. We should be thankful to God that the path is short.

Cheerfulness Taught By Reason Summary in English:

The poetess tells us to learn to be optimistic in life. It is no use complaining about what you do not have. The best thing would be to be thankful for what we have. In this beautiful world made by God, most of us are always ready to complain about what we do not possess. We are likely to be deprived of so many things in our life. We may not be able to reach the highest point in the sky.

We may become unconscious thinking that there is some restriction put on our soul to reach the sky. It is not wise to keep on feeling sad or depressed if we cannot reach such a distant destination. Our weak heart should feel strong. It must go on marching on the road singing in a cheerful mood. We should not complain that the road to our destination is full of stones. We should be thankful to God that we have to cover only a very short distance.

Cheerfulness Taught By Reason Summary in Hindi

Cheerfulness Taught By Reason Introduction:

यह एक छोटी-सी कविता है। लेकिन इसकी एक बड़ी धारणा है। यह मनुष्य को कहती है कि उसे अपने जीवन में आशावादी होना चाहिए। जो चीज़ हमारे पास नहीं है उसके बारे में हमें कोई शिकवा या शिकायत नहीं होनी चाहिए। जो कुछ हमारे पास है उसके लिए हमें भगवान का धन्यवादी होना चाहिए। चीजें जैसे भी हैं, उन्हें हमें दलेर दिल से स्वीकार कर लेना चाहिए। हमें यह शिकायत नहीं करते रहना चाहिए कि हमारे रास्ते में पत्थर हैं। हमें परमात्मा का धन्यवादी होना चाहिए क्योंकि हमारा रास्ता छोटा-सा है।

Cheerfulness Taught By Reason Summary in Hindi:

कवयित्री हमें कहती है कि जीवन में हमें आशावादी होना चाहिए। जो कुछ हमारे पास नहीं होता उसके बारे शिकायत करने का कोई लाभ नहीं होता। सर्वोत्तम तो वही बात होती है कि जो कुछ हमारे पास है उसके लिए हमें धन्यवादी होना चाहिए। अपने जीवन में हमें कई चीजों से वंचित रहना पड़ता है। हम में से बहुत से ऐसे लोग होते हैं जो हमेशा शिकायत करने के लिए तैयार रहते हैं यदि उनके पास कोई वस्तु न हो। हमें अपने जीवन में कई चीजों से वंचित होना पड़ता है।

हम आकाश में सबसे ऊँचे बिन्दु पर पहुँचने के योग्य नहीं हो सकते। हमें उदास या निराश बिल्कुल नहीं होना चाहिए यदि हम किसी दूर स्थित गन्तव्य पर नहीं पहुंच पाते। हमें अपने कमज़ोर हृदय को मजबूत बनाना चाहिए। इसे पथ पर चलते रहना चाहिए और खुशी का गीत गाते जाना चाहिए। हमें यह शिकायत नहीं करनी चाहिए कि हमारे गन्तव्य का मार्ग अड़चनों से भरा पड़ा है। हमें परमात्मा का शुक्राना करना चाहिए क्योंकि हमारी मंजिल थोड़ी सी दूरी पर है।

Cheerfulness Taught By Reason Central Idea

This is a small poem with a big idea. It calls upon the readers to be optimistic in life. It is no use grumbling and whining about what we do not possess. We should rather be thankful for what we have. We should have a brave heart. We should not be cowardly. We should take things in our stride. We should stop grumbling if there are difficulties in our way or if our path is full of stones. We should be thankful to God that the way is short and destination is about to come.

Cheerfulness Taught By Reason Central Idea In Hindi

यह एक छोटी कविता है जो बड़े विचार को व्यक्त करती है। यह पाठकों से अनुरोध करती है कि उन्हें जीवन में आशावादी होना चाहिये। जो चीज़ हमारे पास नहीं है उसके बारे रोने-धोने का कोई लाभ नहीं है। हमें उस चीज़ के लिए धन्यवादी होना चाहिये जो हमारे पास है। हमारा दिल दलेर होना चाहिए। हमें भीरु या बुज़दिल नहीं बनना चाहिए। हमें चीज़ों को या स्थिति को सहज में लेना चाहिये। यदि हमारे रास्ते में कठिनाईयाँ हों या यदि हमारे रास्ते में पत्थर हों तो हमें बुड़-बुड़ नहीं करना चाहिये। हमें परमात्मा का धन्यवादी होना चाहिये कि हमारा रास्ता छोटा है और हमारा गन्तव्य आने ही वाला है।