Life
Class 8th, Tulip Series JKBOSE
GLOSSARY
captivity = The state of being imprisoned
shroud = a cloth that is used to wrap a dead body (winding-sheet, covering)
confront = to face, meet or deal with a difficult situation (challenge)
penance = an act which shows that you regret what you have done, (atonement, expiation, self-mortification, self-punishment)
rumble = to make a continuous low sound (boom, thunder, roll, roar, resound, reverberate, echo, grumble)
parched = very thirsty (dried up, arid, desiccated, dehydrated, baked, scorched; opp: soaking)
Mamta = motherhood
boon = something that is very helpful and improves the quality of life (blessing, advantage, godsend
stroke = of luck; opp: curse
comprehend = to understand (grasp, take in, apprehend, follow, make sense of, decipher, figure out)
meditate = to think deeply (contemplates, think, reflect, deliberate, ruminate, brood mull over, put on one‘s thinking cap)
yearn = to have a strong desire (long, pine, crave, desire, hanker, wish, covet)
renunciation =The act of leaving or abandoning someone or something.
Thinking about Text
Q. No. 1. What answer did the stars give to the wind?
Ans: Since the stars have their own shine, they responded in their own way. They told the wind that shining with one’s own brightness is life. They have got their own light and they are shining with this light to help others to find their way. They are not dependent on others. It there is dependence in life, it is not the life in the real sense of the word. For them, life is to have their own light.
Q. No. 2. What was the moon’s reply?
Ans: The moon laments for it is not blessed with a light of its own. The borrowed light has lifted indelible spots on its surface. It is a lifeless entity. It replied that its life is dependent on others and feels lifeless entity and child of the ocean.
Q.No. 3 What was the ocean’s response?
Ans: The Ocean replied that the idea of life was to realize one’s limitations and maintain one’s dignity in order to contain all bitter experiences and to take them as pearls and rubies. Life is also a penance or renunciation as if it (ocean) is the cause of somebody’s death, it also regrets it by giving them pearls and rain as its salty water creates pearls and creates rain-filled clouds.
Q.No 4. What was the earth’s reply to the question put forth to her by the wind?
Ans: For earth, the meaning of life is ‘love’. Earth considers herself the mother of all lives and says that the sympathy of the mother is the gift of life. Earth says that it takes water from clouds, rivers, and streams and distributes everything that sprouts from it, so this taking and giving is life for her.
Q. No. 5. What was the little girl doing when the wind saw her?
Ans: The little girl was lighting new lamps with the lamp that was already alight in her hand. In other words, she was generously spreading light and joy. Thus she was giving real meaning to her life.
Q.No. 6. Why was the Wind impressed by the little girl?
Ans. The wind was impressed by the girl because from the words that the girl told her she found the real meaning of life. The girl had left some lamps unlighted. When she was asked the reason for this, she answered that there was no point in lighting them since they had no oil in them. She was lighting only those who were longing to awake and waiting to be lighted. It impressed the wind. The wind understood that helping those who have a strong desire to live is the real meaning of life.
Q.No. 7. Why did the wind join the girl?
Ans: The wind joined the girl because she was greatly impressed by the girl’s action of lighting the lamps and answer given by her.
The wind understood that helping those who have a strong desire to live is the real meaning of life. Thus the Wind forgot everything and joined her.
LANGUAGE WORK
I. Choose appropriate tiller for the following:(Kindly consult your textbook),(Answers Only):
1. He tames because of he
Ans: (c), He is fond of them.
2. He is so lazy that he
Ans: (c), He can seldom complete his work.
3. Whichever way you approach the problem
Ans: (d), It will not be solved.
4. The doctor warns him that unless he gives up smoking
Ans: (d), He will not recover.
II. Write two synonyms of each of the following Words: (Answers Only):
1. Abhor = Hate, Detest, Dislike, Despise
2. Betray = Expose, Reveal, Deceive, Grass
3. Counsel = Advice, Discuss, Guidance, Direction
4. Delight = Please, Satisfy, Pleasure, Happiness, Joy
5. Educate = Amend, Improve, Teach, Instruct
6. Fate = Destiny, Fortune, Luck
7. Generous = Benevolent, Big-hearted, Lavish, Liberal
8. Hasty = Quick, Speedy, Hurried, Swift, Rapid, Fast
9. Intellectual = Knowledgeable, Intelligent, Logical, Scholarly
10. Justice = Fairness, Impartiality, Rightfulness, Uprightness
11. Languid = Lazy, weak, Unhurried, Unenergetic, Relaxed
12. Mend = Aid, Patch, Repair, Fix, Restore
13. Nonsense = Senseless, Gibberish, Babble, Drivel
14. Obstacle = The difficulty, Problem, Complication, Hindrance, Restraint
15. Palatable = Edible, Pleasant, Tasty, Satisfying
16. Queer = Unusual, Unexpected, Odd, Expose, Endanger
17. Religious = Sacred, Spiritual, Holy, Pious, Puritan
18. Sober = Temperate, Moderate, Intoxicated, Serious
19. Transient = Fleeting, Passing, Brief, Temporary, Short-lived
20. Urge =Need, Wish, Impulse, Itch, Craving
GRAMMAR WORK
Write the following sentences inserting ‘to’ wherever necessary before the infinitive in brackets:
1. I have no money (lend) you.
Ans. I have no money to lend you.
2. We saw the thief (run).
Ans. We saw the thief running.
3. We heard her (sing).
Ans. We heard her singing.
4. They watched their team (play).
Ans. They watched their team play.
5. He made us (wait) for a long time.
Ans. He made us wait for a long time.
6. Let him (work).
Ans. Let him work.
7. Need I (come) tomorrow?
Ans. Need I to come tomorrow?
8. Do you wish to make (make) a complaint?
Ans. Do you wish to make a complaint?
9. A heard a hen (crow) and got up.
Ans. He heard a hen crowing and got up.
10. How dare you (read my letter? Ans. How dare you to read my letter?
11. It is up to you (increase) your knowledge.
Ans. It is up to you to increase your knowledge.
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12. Bid him (go) there.
Ans. Bid him go there.
13. Goodbye! I hope (see) you again. Ans. Goodbye! I hope to see you again.
14. I would like (be) a teacher.
Ans. I would like to be a teacher.
15. He learned (swim) when he was ten years old.
Ans. He learned to swim when he was ten years old.
16. I’m tired. I want (go) to bed.
Ans. I’m tired. I want to go to bed.
17. What have you decided (do)?
Ans. What have you decided to do?
18. We should learn (speak) the truth. Ans. We should learn to speak the truth.
19. Where is Sumaya? I need (ask) her something.
Ans. Where is Sumaya? I need to ask her something.
20. I’m trying (concentrate). Please stop talking.
Ans. I’m trying to concentrate. Please stop talking.
Let’s Write
1. Write a dialogue (100-150 words) on ‘Life is Gift’.
Shahid: Hello Shabir, how is your life going on?
Shabir: I’m spending my days pretty well.
Shahid: OK Shabir. Now tell me, how were your exams?
Shabir: Oh yes, I’ve done very well. I expect this year I come out as flying colour.
Shahid: Oh that’s great! I wish for your great success. How’s your friend, Mohsin? I’ve not seen him for the last few months.
Shabir: Shahid, as you know our friend had been suffering from Asthma for the last seven years and…..yesterday he died of Asthma.
Shahid: Oh my God! That is terribly sad news. I can’t believe it!
Shabir: Actually he was living in the pollution-prone area and he was a little careless about his health.
Shahid: Oh yes, it is certainly said that life is a gift and we must take great care of it.