Unit-11: Ethics & Morality
📖 Reading - I: Wisdom of Little Girls
A. Replace the words or phrases in red in the sentences below with the correct words from the brackets.
[abusing, lassies, scrambled, fancy, folly, rejoicing, chip]
a. The lassies were dressed in their best finery to go to the party.
b. Do you sometimes fancy living in a luxurious house?
c. When Shila was chased by a dog, she scrambled quickly onto the wall.
d. The young lassies rejoiced everyone with their performance.
e. It was his folly to leave the bike unlocked in the street.
f. Each one accused the other of cheating. Soon, they started abusing each other.
g. Could you please give me a chip of paper? I can't find the duster.
h. The farmers rejoiced when it rained after a long drought.
B. Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences.
a. The two little girls were dressed in new frocks probably because
ii. they had to go to church.
b. When Malasha was going to splash into the puddle
ii. Akoulya asked Malasha to take off her shoes and stockings
before going.
c. While running home, the girls were caught
Akoulya's mother.
d. Akoulya's grandmother
i. was able to calm down the crowd.
e. While the men were busy fighting, the two girls
ii. played a game together.
f. In the end, the men
i. were guilty of their deed.
C. Answer these questions
a. How were the girls dressed?
=> Answer: The girls were wearing newly made frocks. Malasha appeared in a blue frock, whereas Akoulya was dressed in a yellow print frock. Each girl also had a red kerchief on her head.
b. Where did the girls begin to play?
=> Answer: The children started their play in a large puddle of dirty water that had formed in the area between two homesteads.
c. Why did Akoulya get angry with Malasha?
=> Answer: Akoulya became upset because Malasha accidentally splashed water over her frock while they were playing in the puddle.
d. Why did the crowd gather in the street?
=> Answer: After Malasha splashed water on Akoulya's dress, the mothers of the two girls began arguing. Their dispute attracted the attention of other people, causing a crowd to form in the street.
e. How did Akoulya's grandmother try to calm down the crowd?
=> Answer: Akoulya's grandmother went among the people and appealed to them to stop quarrelling. She tried to make them understand that they should be rejoicing instead of fighting.
f. Why are the girls called wiser than men?
=> Answer: The girls demonstrate greater wisdom because they do not continue their quarrel for long. They soon forget their anger, cooperate to make a channel for the water and happily return to playing. In contrast, the adults become involved in a serious quarrel and even fight. The girls' innocent and peaceful behavior eventually helps the adults stop their conflict.
g. What lesson do you learn from the story?
=> Answer: The story shows that conflicts can often be solved through forgiveness, cooperation and simplicity rather than anger. The girls quickly overcome their disagreement and work together without holding a grudge. Their behavior teaches us that peaceful cooperation is more valuable than unnecessary arguments and hostility.
D. Remember a similar incident that happened during your childhood and share it in the class.
-> Answer: I remember an incident from my childhood when my best friend
and I were playing an indoor treasure-hunt game. While searching
for a hidden object, we accidentally knocked over a vase and broke
it.
We became nervous because we were afraid that my friend's parents
would be angry with us. After discussing what to do, we decided to
admit our mistake instead of hiding it. The parents were initially
upset about the broken vase, but they appreciated the fact that we
had told the truth and accepted responsibility for what we had done.
From that experience, I understood that honesty is important even
when telling the truth may lead to an unpleasant consequence. It
also strengthened the friendship between us and taught us to take
responsibility for our actions.
📝 Grammar I
B. Transform the following sentences into negative ones.
a. My sister lives with my parents.
My sister doesn't live with my parents.
b. Maryam knows the answer well.
Maryam doesn't know the answer well.
c. I want to leave now.
I don't want to leave now.
d. Anusha agrees with me.
Anusha doesn't agree with me.
e. The boy killed the cockroach with his shoe.
The boy didn't kill the cockroach with his shoe.
f. His father recognized me at once.
His father didn't recognize me at once.
g. He apologized for his misconduct.
He didn't apologize for his misconduct.
h. He ate a few mangoes.
He didn't eat many mangoes.
(i.e. few = not many; little = not much)
i. We sold a little honey.
We didn't sell much honey.
j. The rich are sometimes happy.
The rich are not always happy.
k. Kanchan frequently visits me.
Kanchan rarely visits me.
l. Shailesh bought several books.
Shailesh didn't buy a few books.
m. Garima let me use her toilet.
Garima didn't let me use her toilet.
n. All of them can help her.
None of them can help her.
C. Complete the following sentences choosing the correct forms of verbs in brackets.
a. A number of soldiers were injured in the war.
b. The number of deceased soldiers is not stored in the record book.
c. A pack of lions was approaching the camp.
d. His pants were torn during the match.
e. The truthful are always trustworthy.
f. To cry is never the solution to any problems.
g. Here lies the tomb of Albert Einstein.
h. Either she or her friends are responsible for this accident.
i. None are under the sun.
j. All that glitters is not gold.
k. Everything is fine when it's done correctly.
l. Either the sculpture or the paintings were in the museum today.
m. Each of the dancers twirls brilliantly.
n. Neither she nor I am getting the lunch special.
✍️ Writing I
You might have read or heard some moral stories. Write your favourite one in your own words.
The Ant and the Grasshopper
-> Answer: In a large anthill lived an industrious ant. One day, while
collecting food, the ant noticed a tiny grasshopper among the grass.
Curious about how the grasshopper spent its time, the ant asked
about its daily activities.
The grasshopper said that it spent its days singing and dancing.
Since the weather was beautiful, it believed there was no need to
gather food. The ant, however, advised the grasshopper to collect
provisions and keep them safely for the coming winter. The
grasshopper ignored the warning, laughed at the ant and continued
enjoying the pleasant days.
After some time, winter arrived. The ant had already filled its
anthill with grain and could therefore live comfortably. The
grasshopper had made no preparation and soon found itself without
food. Unable to survive the severe winter conditions, the
grasshopper eventually perished.
The story teaches us that hard work, preparation and saving are
essential for a secure future. We should plan for difficult periods
instead of using all our time and resources for temporary pleasure.
The grasshopper's carefree enjoyment lasted only for a short time,
while the ant's effort provided lasting security.
I like this story because the two characters represent completely
different attitudes toward life. The hardworking ant thinks ahead,
while the careless grasshopper only enjoys the present. The lesson
is meaningful for both children and adults because everyone should
prepare for tomorrow instead of depending entirely on today's
comfort.
📖 Reading - II: World Record
A. Complete the following table to extend the words to different word classes.
| Verb | Noun | Adjective | Adverb |
|---|---|---|---|
| charm | charmlessness | charming | charmingly |
| scorch | scorcher | scorching | scorchingly |
| sizzle | sizzier | sizzling | sizzlingly |
| beautify | beauty | beautiful | beautifully |
| purify | purity | pure | purely |
| taste | tastiness | tasty | tastefully |
| surprise | surprise | surprising | surprisingly |
B. Write True for true and False for false statements.
a. Two people are going to cast their performance to break the
b. Michael is one of the contestants. — False
c. Michael also tried dipping his foot in the bucket. — False
d. Albert broke the world record for standing on a bucket of hot
soup. — False
e. The word “sizzling” is similar in meaning to “scorching”.
— True
f. The program is a comedy show. — True
C. Answer these questions
a. Who is Mabel Phillips?
=> Answer: Mabel Phillips is a participant on a television programme who is attempting to break a world record.
b. What is she trying to do?
=> Answer: She is making an attempt at the world record by leaning on a brush.
c. How do they maintain the heat of the soup?
=> Answer: The temperature of the soup is maintained by repeatedly pouring additional boiling soup into the bucket.
d. How far was Albert from breaking the record?
=> Answer: Albert was extremely close to achieving the record. He remained in the hot soup for seven hours and two minutes, whereas the world record was seven hours and three minutes. Therefore, he needed only one more minute to break the record.
e. How did the man lose his trousers?
=> Answer: The man took off his trousers before going for a bath. After completing his bath, however, he found that his trousers had disappeared.
f. Why do you think Mabel pushed Albert?
=> Answer: Mabel probably pushed Albert for humorous effect as part of the comedy programme, or she may have done it playfully during the event.
E. How do you feel if somebody interrupts you on the verge of winning point? Do you think it is ethical?
=> Answer: I would feel annoyed and disappointed if someone interrupted me when I was just about to win a point. I do not consider such an action ethical because it prevents another person from receiving a fair opportunity to succeed. Deliberately disturbing someone at such an important moment is disrespectful, unfair and self-serving. People should respect one another's efforts and allow competitions or discussions to proceed fairly.
📝 Grammar II
A. Change the following sentences into affirmative.
a. Dev Narayan does not perform well.
Dev Narayan performs well.
b. The dog did not bite Fatima.
The dog bit Fatima.
c. A room in the flat did not need painting.
A room in the flat needed painting.
d. All the students did not have to sit in the re-examination.
All the students had to sit in the re-examination.
e. He never drinks wine.
He always drinks wine.
f. Don't pour much water in the curry.
Pour a little water in the curry.
g. Nobody came to me.
Somebody came to me.
h. There is not anyone in the locality living in luxury.
There is someone in the locality living in luxury.
i. He does not have a bath every day.
He has a bath every day.
j. Neither the boy nor the man goes to school.
Either the boy or the man goes to school.
k. She does not have anything in her bag.
She has something in her bag.
l. He does not work with us.
He works with us.
B. Rewrite the following letter correcting the errors in subject-verb agreement.
Dear Hiring Manager,
I feel that I am the ideal candidate for the position of
Communication Manager in your company. I have three years of
experience as a receptionist in a company that is similar to yours.
My phone skills and written communication are excellent. These
skills, and others that I have learned on the job, help me
understand that every person in a company helps make the business
a success.
At my current job, the team always says that I am very helpful.
Everyone appreciates when I go the extra mile to get the job done
right. My current employer and co-workers feel that I am an asset to
the team. Along with my colleagues, I am efficient and organized.
Are there any other details about me that you would like to know? If
so, please contact me. Here is my resume. You can reach me by
e-mail or phone. I look forward to speaking with you in person.
Sincerely yours,
Adara Banu
✍️ Writing II
B. Write a similar message of condolence using the given outlines.
Heartfelt Condolence
Jayananda Lama (1956–2022)
-> Answer: The death of the respected folk singer and actor Jayananda
Lama at his residence in Kaushaltar, Bhaktapur, on (date) has
brought great sadness to the entire Nepali art sector. His passing
is a significant loss because he was a legendary personality in
Nepali folk music and cinema.
His distinctive and soulful voice made songs such as “Kalakate
Kainvo”, “Herda Ramro”, “Chuin Chuin Chuilkane Jooto” and “Mulako
Ghana” memorable among generations of Nepalis. His contribution was
not limited to music, as he also acted in over a hundred movies and
created many unforgettable characters.
His demise has left a deep void in the Nepali artistic community.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and offer our
deepest sympathy during this painful period. His contribution will
continue to be remembered through his songs and films.
May his soul rest in eternal peace. May his family be given courage
and strength to face this irreparable loss. Our thoughts and prayers
remain with them.
C. Imagine you and your friend Purna was working in a factory. Unfortunately, he broke his hand while working with a machine. Write a letter of sympathy using the clues given below.
**Clues: Purna – 28 years old – working together for 3 years –
-> Answer: Dear Purna,
I was very sorry to learn about the accident you suffered at the
factory on 20th Oct 2022. Hearing that your hand was broken while
operating a machine was deeply upsetting to me. I sincerely hope
that you are receiving proper care and treatment.
We have been working together for three years, and throughout this
period I have known you as a regular, hardworking and dutiful
person. It is especially unfortunate that a sort of mechanical
failure resulted in such a painful injury.
I understand that you are currently in hospital under treatment.
Please give your full attention to your health, follow the doctor's
instructions and take enough rest. If you need any assistance during
your recovery, please feel free to ask me.
I hope your injured hand recovers completely and that you regain
your strength as soon as possible. Everyone at work will certainly
be happy to see you healthy and ready to return to your duties.
Wishing you a speedy recovery and hoping that you will soon be
completely well again.
Warmest wishes,
Shyam
Your faithful friend and colleague