📚 Unit 18 – Media & Entertainment
🎬 Reading I – Hachi: A Dog's Tale
A. Find the words from the text for the meanings given below.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a. Unwavering | never changing or becoming weaker |
| b. Devotion | great love, care and support for somebody/something |
| c. Commuter | a person who travels some distance to work on a regular basis |
| d. Vendor | a person or company that sells goods or services |
| e. Adaptation | the act of changing something to make it suitable for a new situation |
| f. Reinforce | to strengthen with some added piece, support, or material |
| g. Passionate | having or showing strong feelings |
| h. Cinematic | connecting with film and how they are made |
| i. Secular | not having any connection with religion |
B. State whether the following statements are true or false.
| Statement | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. Laura Busch is one of the characters in the movie. | False |
| b. The dog is the symbol of love, devotion and loyalty. | True |
| c. The story of the movie is based on a real incident. | True |
| d. Portraying the traditional values of marriage is one of the weaknesses of the movie. | False |
| e. The strong bonding between the dog and his master makes everyone emotional. | True |
| f. This film is different from other family films. | True |
C. Answer these questions.
a. What is the name of the dog in the movie?
=> Answer: The dog in the movie is named Hachika.
b. Who directed the movie?
=> Answer: Lasse Hallström directed the movie Hachi: A Dog's Tale.
c. How was the relationship between the dog and his master?
=> Answer: Hachiko and Parker Wilson, a college professor, shared a deeply affectionate and loyal relationship. Hachiko regularly waited at the railway station for Parker to return from work, and he continued this faithful routine even after his master's death.
d. Why was the statue of the dog made?
=> Answer: The statue was constructed as a tribute to Hachiko's extraordinary loyalty toward his master. It represents the dog's lasting devotion and faithfulness.
e. Write any two weaknesses of the film.
=> Answer: The film may seem somewhat slow-paced in a few sections. Another possible limitation is that some supporting characters are not developed as deeply as they could be.
f. What things in the movie touch the heart of the audience?
=> Answer: The audience is deeply moved by the pure affection and loyalty shared by Hachiko and his master. Hachiko's continued devotion after his owner's death creates a powerful emotional impact. The movie's treatment of friendship, love and faithfulness also makes its message memorable to viewers.
D. If you had a chance to ask the screenwriter of the movie a question, what would you ask? Discuss.
-> Answer: I would like to ask the screenwriter how they managed to preserve the emotional power of the story while keeping the film interesting throughout. Hachi: A Dog's Tale contains many deeply moving moments, so maintaining the right balance between sadness, entertainment and audience engagement must have been an important part of the writing process.
I would also be interested in knowing how the screenwriter transformed such an inspiring true story into a form suitable for the big screen while keeping its emotional message powerful and meaningful.
📝 Grammar I
A. Put the words in the proper order to make questions.
a. plane / on / feel / did / how / you / the
=> Answer: How did you feel on the plane?
b. are / the kids / doing / what
=> Answer: What are the kids doing?
c. phone / me / didn't / you / why
=> Answer: Why didn't you phone me?
d. did / what / beach on / he / the / find
=> Answer: What did he find on the beach?
e. for / do / parents have / your / what / breakfast
=> Answer: What do your parents have for breakfast?
f. what / will / like / that / weather / tomorrow / be
=> Answer: What will the weather be like tomorrow?
g. a / nice / they / time / have / did
=> Answer: Did they have a nice time?
h. hotel / your / was / near / the / beach
=> Answer: Was your hotel near the beach?
i. visited / ever / Italy / Rita / has
=> Answer: Has Rita ever visited Italy?
j. you / fishing / gone / ever / have
=> Answer: Have you ever gone fishing?
B. Write the questions you would ask in each of the situations below.
a. You want to suggest going to a movie.
=> Answer: Would you like to go to a movie?
b. You want to know where Simran lives.
=> Answer: Do you know where Simran lives?
c. You are inviting a friend to come to your home.
=> Answer: Would you like to come to my home?
d. You are asking for permission to take a seat on a bus.
=> Answer: May I take this seat on the bus?
e. You are looking for your pet dog. You are asking your.
=> Answer: Have you seen my pet dog? or Do you know where my pet dog is?
f. You are asking Bharat about the number of books he has got.
=> Answer: How many books do you have, Bharat?
g. You are asking your friend if her father cooks every day or once a week.
=> Answer: Does your father cook every day or once a week?
h. You are asking your teacher about the weather tomorrow.
=> Answer: What is the weather forecast for tomorrow, teacher?
C. Complete the conversation below with suitable questions.
Pristine: Where do you live?
Mr. Waiba: I live in Dhadingbensi.
Mr. Waiba: How old are you?
Pristine: I am sixteen.
Pristine: Did you go to school?
Mr. Waiba: Yes, I went to school.
Mr. Waiba: What are your interests or hobbies?
Pristine: My interests? I don't have any really.
Mr. Waiba: What is the name of your school?
Pristine: It's Neelakantha Secondary School.
Pristine: Is there anything you dislike about your school?
Mr. Waiba: Nothing. I like everything about my school.
✍️ Writing I
Write a review of a film you have recently watched.
A Review of the Movie: Pashupati Prasad
Director: Dependra K. Khanal
Producers: Rojina Staula
Starring: Rabindra Singh Baniya, Bipin Karki, Khagendra Lamichhane, and Barsha Shiwakoti
Duration: 130 minutes
Genre: Social
Language: Nepali
Released Date: January 29, 2016
Pashupati Prasad presents the difficult life of its central character, Pashupati, who struggles to survive after an earthquake takes away his family and home. The film delivers a deeply emotional experience and encourages viewers to reflect on the hardships faced by people living under difficult circumstances.
The film is visually impressive, combining beautiful views of the Nepalese countryside with lively scenes from Kathmandu. The performances are another major strength. Khagendra Lamichhane gives a particularly convincing performance as Pashupati, successfully presenting the pain, determination and hope of a man trying to overcome severe difficulties.
The movie gives considerable attention to social problems, especially the conditions experienced by people living in poverty. It presents the everyday difficulties of those struggling to meet even their basic needs and shows how challenging it is for them to escape such circumstances.
Alongside these social concerns, the film deals with love, family and friendship. These relationships become sources of emotional strength during difficult moments. The connection between Pashupati and Bunu, portrayed by Barsha Shivakoti, is especially touching, and their performances create a convincing emotional relationship.
Overall, Pashupati Prasad is a meaningful and emotionally powerful film. It combines personal struggles with wider social concerns and demonstrates how cinema can draw attention to important issues while telling a story that can connect with audiences beyond Nepal.
📱 Unit 18 – Reading II
Interesting Social Media Stories
A. Match the words with their meanings.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a. lip-syncing | iii. to silently mouth the words along with a song or some other recording |
| b. platform | iv. a website that serves as a base from which a service is provided |
| c. pandemic | i. the worldwide spread of a new disease |
| d. overwhelm | ii. to have a strong emotional effect on somebody |
| e. somersaulting | vii. turning over completely in the air |
| f. accumulate | vi. to get more and more over a period of time |
| g. voicemail | viii. a phone message recorded by someone when you do not answer their call |
| h. sanctuary | v. a place where birds or animals can live and be protected |
B. Complete the sentences below with the correct information from the text.
| Item | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. The text is about the positive results brought by | social media. |
| b. Nathan Apodaca was gifted a truck of his favourite drink because he was drinking | Ocean Spray cranberry juice. |
| c. Charlie's birthday became more special than expected because of a post on | Facebook. |
| d. If there were no social media, people would have no idea about | somersaulting the two school children. |
| e. Matt Nason's Twitter page 'We Rate Dogs' | raises fund for the help of dogs. |
C. Answer these questions.
a. What did Nathan Apodaca record in his video?
=> Answer: Nathan Apodaca filmed himself skateboarding while enjoying Ocean Spray cranberry juice and silently singing along to Fleetwood Mac's 1980s song Dreams.
b. Was a truck of Ocean Spray a much-deserved reward for Nathan Apodaca? Why?
=> Answer: Yes, it was an appropriate reward because Nathan's entertaining video became widely popular online and gave Ocean Spray considerable public attention. Giving him a truck of the drink was therefore a way for the company to appreciate the positive publicity generated by his video.
c. How did social media help Charlie celebrate her birthday?
=> Answer: Charlie's aunt used social media to tell people about her birthday and asked them to help make the occasion memorable. The post attracted responses from strangers, who sent Charlie 173 cards and 15 parcels, making the celebration far more special than expected.
**d. What was 700 was used to purchase a wheelchair for a 12-year-old Golden Retriever that had difficulty walking. Matt Nason appealed to followers of his "We Rate Dogs" Twitter account, and the required amount was collected within only a few hours.
e. How was the hawk in New York rescued?
=> Answer: Madeleine Weatherhead noticed an injured hawk on a street in New York and shared information about it through a tweet. The message reached Special Operations Officers Maxwell Outsen and Joseph Bellomo. They rescued the bird and transferred it to an animal sanctuary, where it eventually recovered completely.
📖 Grammar II
A. Complete the sentences below with the correct form of verbs in brackets.
a. I don't let my children play video games. (play)
b. The police made him pay for the damage he caused. (pay)
c. Rob is having his house painted next weekend. (paint)
d. Julia got her boyfriend to buy her a ring. (buy)
e. Sam gets me to deliver the grocery every weekend. (deliver)
f. Please, try not make her cry. (cry)
g. This quiz can make you understand causative verbs better. (understand)
h. Laura never has people tell her what to do. (tell)
i. My friend got me to help her with her CV. (help)
j. I had a plumber fix the plumbing this morning. (fix)
k. I had my hair trimmed once a month. (trim)
l. After the party, I was made to wash all the dishes. (wash)
C. Imagine you were in a holiday camp last year. What were you made or let to do there? Write a few sentences using "have", "get" and "make", etc.
=> Answer: At the holiday camp, we had to get up early each morning so that we could take part in the scheduled activities. The counselors made us join the group exercises every morning. I also got the opportunity to play volleyball and swim in the lake. My parents let me remain awake until late during the campfire singalongs. All these experiences made the holiday both enjoyable and unforgettable.
✍️ Writing II
Many people believe that social networking sites such as Facebook and TikTok have negative impacts on both individuals and society while others believe that they have connected people globally. What do you think? Write an essay expressing your opinion on the impacts of social media.
Impacts of Social Media
Social media has become an important part of modern everyday life. Platforms such as Facebook and TikTok make communication across long distances easier, but they can also create problems for individuals and communities. In my view, these platforms have both valuable and harmful effects, and their overall influence largely depends on how carefully people use them.
One major advantage of social networking is that it keeps people connected regardless of distance. Relatives and friends living in different places can communicate regularly without being physically together. These platforms can also help individuals find people with similar interests and experiences, allowing them to develop new social relationships. In addition, social media has become a powerful way to share information and draw public attention to important causes. Campaigns concerning human rights, environmental issues and public health can reach large audiences quickly through online networks.
Despite these advantages, uncontrolled use of social media can create serious difficulties. Some users become dependent on constantly checking notifications, viewing updates or seeking approval from others. Such habits may interfere with personal relationships and reduce concentration and productivity. Another concern is the enormous amount of information available online. False claims, rumors and propaganda can spread rapidly, making it harder for users to separate reliable information from misleading content.
Social media may also affect mental and emotional wellbeing, particularly among younger users. Excessive exposure to carefully presented images and lifestyles can contribute to body-image concerns, while cyberbullying, anxiety and depression can become additional problems. These effects show that social networking should not be treated as harmless simply because it makes communication easier.
To conclude, social media can strengthen relationships, spread awareness and provide opportunities for communication, but irresponsible use can produce equally serious consequences. The most sensible approach is moderation, self-control and careful judgment. When individuals, families and communities understand both the benefits and risks of these platforms, social media can be used more wisely and become a positive force rather than a source of unnecessary harm.