🏠 Home Life and Family Relationship
📝 Ways with Words
A. Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.
a. All my efforts to convince her for the tour were futile.
b. The lost traveller huddled up under a shelter made of branches and leaves.
c. Her rude behaviour was the main cause of irritation for him.
d. She moved awkwardly in the room, thinking that I was watching.
e. She is mumbling something, but I can’t hear her.
f. When I met my sister after a long time, she talked to me in a feeble voice.
B. Tick (√) the correct words that are similar in meaning to the underlined words.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| a. Rupa studied Science reluctantly due to her father’s pressure. | ii. unwillingly |
| b. She moved her fingers exasperatedly through her hair. | iv. annoyingly |
| c. My grandmother is over eighty. She lifted her hands feebly. | iii. weakly |
| d. She is wearing a tattered shawl. | ii. torn |
| e. I have to work at two jobs to make ends meet in this expensive city. | iv. earn just enough money |
D. Syllable
c. Consult an English dictionary and find the number of syllables in:
| Word | Syllabification | Number of Syllables |
|---|---|---|
| bury | bur-y | 2 syllables |
| development | de-vel-op-ment | 4 syllables |
| syllabic | syl-lab-ic | 3 syllables |
| vowel | vow-el | 2 syllables |
| education | ed-u-ca-tion | 4 syllables |
| discipline | dis-ci-pline | 3 syllables |
| examination | ex-am-i-na-tion | 5 syllables |
| children | chil-dren | 2 syllables |
| separately | sep-a-rate-ly | 4 syllables |
| pronunciation | pro-nun-cia-tion | 5 syllables |
📖 Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Why didn't the mother recognise her son Gopi?
=> Answer: The mother failed to identify Gopi as her son because she had reached the age of eighty and her memory had deteriorated.
b. Why is the sister living with her mother?
=> Answer: The sister stays with her mother because she is a widow and has no one else to look after her mother.
c. What is the sister’s attitude towards her brother?
=> Answer: The sister takes her brother’s behaviour seriously and is concerned about the way he treats their mother.
d. Does the son love his mother very much? How do you know that?
=> Answer: Yes, the son deeply loves his mother. His affection becomes clear when he bends towards her and brings his face close to her wrinkled cheeks.
e. What does the mother actually need: a blanket or the warmth of her son’s love?
=> Answer: What the mother really longs for is not merely a blanket but the emotional warmth of her son’s affection. The blanket serves as a symbol of love and care.
f. What does the phrase 'the tattered blanket’ mean? Is it only the blanket that is tattered?
=> Answer: The phrase 'the tattered blanket’ means the hurted feelings of his mother.
g. The son says, ‘Amma can't remember who I am’. Do you think that he remembered his mother? Why didn’t he answer when his sister asked, ‘Do you remember your Amma?’
=> Answer: Yes, he remembered his mother, but he could not respond directly to his sister’s question. A year had passed since he last wrote to his mother, while more than five years had gone by since he had actually seen her.
💭 Critical Thinking
a. What can be the expectations of the parents from their offspring at the old age?
Ans:
The needs and wishes of elderly parents are not identical because every person has a different personality and different expectations. Nevertheless, children have a responsibility to understand what their ageing parents need and respond to those needs with affection and sensitivity.
Parents usually spend a major part of their lives working for the welfare of their family. They earn money, manage responsibilities, raise their children and contribute to the development of the household. When they become old, they naturally expect their efforts to be remembered and their dignity to be respected.
Another difficulty comes after retirement. Once regular work disappears, elderly people may have fewer activities to occupy their time. They can easily become lonely, especially when other family members remain busy with their own lives. They may simply want someone to sit with them, listen to them, or share ordinary conversations.
Elderly parents may also wish to feel that they are still an important part of the family. Children can give them this feeling by discussing family matters with them, asking for their opinions, involving them in decisions and spending meaningful time together.
Therefore, old-age care should not be understood only in terms of money or physical assistance. Respect, companionship, attention and emotional support are equally important. At the same time, children should observe their parents’ individual preferences and care for them according to their particular needs.
b. Some children who live in a distance tend to be indifferent to the feelings of their parents. Why do you think they are like that? Discuss.
Ans:
Children may move away from their parents for education, employment, business or other personal ambitions. Physical separation itself is not necessarily a problem, but a busy lifestyle can gradually reduce the amount of attention they give to their parents.
Once children become occupied with careers and financial goals, they may begin to regard earning money and achieving success as their main responsibilities. In that process, they sometimes overlook the emotional needs of their ageing parents. Distance can therefore become more than a geographical separation; it can develop into an emotional gap.
Another reason may be the establishment of a separate household. After marriage, some people devote most of their time to their spouse and children. Their elderly parents may then receive fewer phone calls, visits and opportunities for conversation.
Such neglect can make parents feel forgotten even when their children are financially successful. They may spend their later years feeling isolated and unhappy. For this reason, children living away from home should make deliberate efforts to maintain regular communication and preserve a warm relationship with their parents.
c. A mother's love is everlasting and indispensable. Justify.
Ans:
A mother’s affection occupies a unique place in a person’s life because it begins before birth and continues through every stage of growth. From carrying her child before birth to protecting and guiding that child after birth, a mother remains closely involved in the child’s development.
During childhood, she provides much more than physical care. She feeds, protects, teaches and comforts her child while also creating a sense of security. She often becomes the child’s earliest companion and responds to needs that the child may not yet be able to express clearly.
A mother also contributes greatly to the formation of character. She teaches her child to distinguish between right and wrong, encourages good behaviour and offers guidance whenever difficulties arise. In different situations, she can simultaneously act as a teacher, guide, friend, mentor and caretaker.
Much of this work is performed without expecting a reward. Children may become so accustomed to receiving their mother’s care that they fail to notice its value. Yet her contribution remains essential to their emotional and personal growth.
For this reason, a mother can be regarded as one of life’s most precious gifts. Her selfless devotion and continuous guidance leave lasting impressions on her children, making her love both indispensable and enduring.
📚 Grammar
B. Complete the following sentences with however, although or in spite of.
a. In spite of, the fact that he is an octogenarian; he still leads an active life.
b. I still enjoyed the week although, the weather was bad.
c. He has passed MA. However, he hasn’t got a job.
d. Although, I had a headache, I enjoyed the movie.
e. Ramila didn’t get the job, in spite of, the fact that she had all the necessary qualifications.
f. In spite of, the fact that he had no money, he bought the car anyway.
g. We can go to the park for lunch although, the weather report says it's going to rain.
h. However, I speak English well, my first language is actually Maithili.
C. Combine the following sentences using the words given in brackets.
a. He was annoyed. He didn’t say anything. (although)
=> Answer: Although he was annoyed, he didn’t say anything.
b. Playing the stock market is exciting. It can be risky. (however)
=> Answer: Playing the stock market is exciting, however, it can be risky.
c. He works slowly. He never makes a mistake. (even though)
=> Answer: Even though he works slowly, he never makes a mistake.
d. It was raining. We still went to the park. (in spite of)
=> Answer: In spite of rain, we still went to the park.
e. Hark bought the watch. It was expensive. (despite)
=> Answer: Despite being expensive, Hark bought the watch.
f. He is very poor. He wears expensive clothes. (but)
=> Answer: He is very poor but wears expensive clothes.
D. Rewrite the following sentences using (a) although and (b) in spite of.
a. He had very little time, but he offered to help us.
Ans:
- •Although he had very little time, he offered to help us.
- •In spite of having very little time, he offered to help us.
b. She is very poor, but she still wears expensive clothes.
Ans:
- •Although she is very poor, she still wears expensive clothes.
- •In spite of being very poor, she still wears expensive clothes.
c. He's a millionaire, but he lives in a very small flat.
Ans:
- •Although he's a millionaire, he lives in a very small flat.
- •In spite of being a millionaire, he lives in a very small flat.
d. They have a lot of money, but they are still not happy.
Ans:
- •Although they have a lot of money, they are still not happy.
- •In spite of having a lot of money, they are still not happy.
e. The traffic was heavy, but we got there in time.
Ans:
- •Although the traffic was heavy, we got there in time.
- •In spite of the heavy traffic, we got there in time.