🎨 Arts and Creations
📚 Ways with Words
A. Circle the correct meanings of the underlined words.
a. Martin Luther started a revolt against the conventions of the Roman Catholic Church.
=> Answer: creations
b. It blended classical styles with new ideas.
=> Answer: mixed together
c. The dome marks the beginning of Renaissance architecture.
=> Answer: serves as a sign of
d. The arts flourished during the Renaissance.
=> Answer: grew and improved
e. The new passion for learning also led to amazing discoveries in science.
=> Answer: enthusiasm
C. What do the following idioms mean? Use them in sensible sentences.
| Idiom | Meaning | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| a. a hot potato | a controversial situation | The question of racial discrimination has become a political hot potato. |
| b. once in a blue moon | not very often or rarely | Dad works in Japan, so he visits his family only once in a blue moon. |
| c. a bed of roses | easy or comfortable situation or activity | We should not expect life to be a bed of roses all the time. |
| d. when pigs fly | used to say that something will never happen | He says he will clean his house every week, but he will probably do it only when pigs fly. |
| e. miss the boat | miss an opportunity | If you delay your decision, you might miss the boat. |
| f. zip your lip | shut up | She chose to zip her lip during the meeting because she knew that nothing useful would come from speaking. |
| g. fight tooth and nail | to fight with great ferocity | I want this job badly, so I am going to fight tooth and nail for it. |
| h. when life gives you lemon, make lemonade | change something negative into a positive | My grandfather lost his job because of the coronavirus, but he remained active and positive. He says, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” |
| i. goose egg | a score of zero | We played a good game, but unfortunately our team ended with a goose egg. |
D. Match the following phrasal verbs with their meanings.
| Phrasal Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a. break down | to stop functioning |
| b. check out | to leave a hotel |
| c. fed up | tired of something or someone |
| d. fill out | to complete a form |
| e. get away | to escape |
| f. give away | to give something to someone for free |
| g. give up | to quit a habit |
| h. look forward to | to wait anxiously for something or an event |
| i. make up | to invent a story or lie |
| j. pass away | to die |
| k. put out | to extinguish |
| l. take off | to remove clothes or shoes from the body, to depart as in airplane |
📖 Comprehension
A. Answer these questions.
a. What does the word Renaissance mean? Which language is it derived from?
=> Answer: The term Renaissance means ‘rebirth’. It is derived from the French word ‘renaitre’.
b. What did the Greek scholars do in their new locations after leaving the Greek city?
=> Answer: After moving to different places, the Greek scholars continued to spread their knowledge. They taught Greek to people in their new surroundings and made their valuable books available there.
c. How did ‘new learning’ teach people to think in different ways?
=> Answer: ‘New Learning’ encouraged people to explore unfamiliar forms of creativity and knowledge. Through painting, sculpture, architecture and literature, they developed broader ways of expressing ideas and understanding the world.
d. Describe the artistic developments of Renaissance in brief.
=> Answer: The Renaissance began its artistic journey in Florence and later reached several other Italian cities. The expansion of trade and banking brought wealth to cities such as Florence, Venice and Milam. This prosperity allowed people to spend both money and leisure time on cultural activities such as music, art and poetry. The period produced outstanding creators including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphel, Filipo, Brunelleshchi, Shakespeare, and Cervantes, who created their master pieces. William Shakespeare became one of the greatest literary figure of this period.
e. Name the three Renaissance scientists who made great discoveries?
=> Answer: The three Renaissance scientists who made important discoveries were Galileo Galilei, Nicolas Copernicus and Sir Isaac Newton.
f. Who developed the printing press? Which country was he from?
=> Answer: Johannes Gutenberg** developed the printing press, and he was from Germany.
g. Why is the development of the printing press considered as one of the gifts of Renaissance?
=> Answer: In earlier times, books had to be written by hand, which made their production expensive. The printing press made it possible to produce books more cheaply and helped writers publish their works at lower prices. Therefore, its development is regarded as one of the important gifts of the Renaissance.
h. Name the five famous explorers of the Renaissance?
=> Answer: The five famous Renaissance explorers were Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama, John Cabot, Ferdinand Magellan and Sir Francis Drake.
i. Why do some people think of the Renaissance as the beginning of modern history?
=> Answer: The Renaissance brought extensive changes to art, architecture, literature, culture, navigation and science. These developments transformed knowledge and many aspects of human life, leading some people to consider this period the beginning of modern history.
B. What do you infer from the reading? Tick (√) the best answer.
a. Before the Renaissance…
=> Answer: education was limited to scholars and privileged
b. Which statement is true?
=> Answer: The Greeks had a strong influence on Renaissance thinking
c. What did the Renaissance do?
=> Answer: It caused people to make changes in their lives
d. What were the major causes of the Renaissance?
=> Answer: printing, reading and learning
💭 Critical Thinking
a. Do you agree with Machiavelli’s view that a good leader can do bad and dishonest things in order to preserve his power and protect his government? Explain.
-> Answer: Yes, I agree with Machiavelli's view that a leader may
sometimes have to use bad or dishonest methods to maintain
authority and protect the government. Machiavelli was a
politician and writer who examined the realities of political
leadership and the difficult choices rulers may make.
A leader has the responsibility of protecting the government
and keeping control over the nation or territory. When such
responsibilities are seriously threatened, a ruler may feel
that following every ordinary rule is not enough. From this
perspective, going beyond accepted rules can be considered
necessary for preserving political power and protecting the
government.
However, the pursuit of power can become harmful when it is
combined with an unlimited desire for wealth and fame. A
leader who becomes too ambitious may begin to put personal
interests above moral standards. Some leaders obtain power
by imposing their wishes on other people or by destroying
those who challenge them. After reaching the highest level of
authority, they may become afraid that others will replace
them. This fear can cause them to take actions outside the
accepted rules simply to protect their position.
b. Do you think that art and literature are important assets of a country? Give reasons.
-> Answer: Yes, art and literature are important national assets
because they preserve and communicate people's thoughts,
emotions and experiences. Literature allows readers to
encounter different aspects of human existence, from tragedy
and suffering to love and the search for happiness. Although
literary ideas are expressed through written words, their
full meaning develops through the reader's imagination and
ability to understand the text.
Another major value of art and literature is their ability to
influence society. Creative works can make people sensitive
to oppression, injustice and the suffering of others. They
can also encourage people to think about social problems and
the need for change.
Nepal faces several serious challenges, including poverty,
unemployment, inflation, ignorance, casteism, communalism and
other social evils. Writers and artists can contribute to the
struggle against these problems by producing works that
inspire people and speak against injustice and oppression.
Their contribution can encourage society to move toward a
better Nepal. Thus, art and literature have great value as
assets of a country.
✍️ Writing
a. Write an essay on “Literature is the reflection of society.”
Literature is the Reflection of Society
Storytelling has accompanied human beings since the earliest
stages of society. In ancient times, people did not depend
mainly on written records to preserve knowledge. Songs,
spoken stories and oral traditions were used to carry
information about life and society from one generation to
another. With the development of literature, these experiences
could be recorded permanently and made available to others.
Literature presents many different aspects of human society.
Authors have included social, political, ecological,
historical and scientific phenomenon in their works. Written
sources have also allowed later generations to learn about
the past. Knowledge about works such as The Ramayana, The
Mahabharata, The Old Testament and The Bible has helped
people understand earlier beliefs, traditions, ancestors and
ideas about human existence.
Society and literature are deeply connected because the
experiences of society provide material for literary creation.
Traditions, customs and religious stories frequently appear
in literary works. Nevertheless, the way these elements are
represented depends on the writer's outlook. A writer with an
enlightened perspective may interpret social conditions
differently from a writer with a conservative attitude.
Literature can therefore reveal many sides of human life. It
contains human emotions and activities and may describe both
positive and negative experiences. Social and political events
can also be preserved through literary works. Since literature
presents the realities of the society in which people live, it
can appropriately be called the mirror or reflection of
society.
b. It is said that today’s reader is tomorrow’s leader. Do you agree with this statement? Explain.
-> Answer: Yes, I agree that today's readers can become tomorrow's
leaders. Reading is a powerful means of developing a person's
personality and intellectual abilities. It improves language
fluency, strengthens basic skills and expands vocabulary.
Readers are also exposed to different styles of writing and
gain opportunities to collect ideas, which can strengthen
their communication and speaking abilities.
The habit of reading also gives people a meaningful way to
spend their time. Books introduce readers to different worlds
and experiences through their pages. Consequently, regular
readers can remain mentally engaged rather than feeling
lonely or bored. Books can also help people develop wisdom,
practical judgment and a better understanding of life.
A successful leader needs knowledge and the ability to
understand different ideas and situations. Reading helps
develop these qualities over time. Therefore, people who want
to become capable leaders in the future should cultivate a
strong reading habit in the present.
c. Write a short biography of a national literary, artistic or historical figure you appreciate most.
Bhanubhakta Acharya
Bhanubhakta Acharya is an important figure in the development
of Nepali literature. He is recognized as the first Nepali
poet and is particularly known for translating the great
Sanskrit epic ‘Ramayana’ into Nepali. He was born on 29
Ashar, 1814 in Tanahu district of Nepal. He belonged to a
Brahmin family and received his education at home from his
grandfather. His upbringing gave him a strong inclination
toward religion. His valuable contribution to Nepali poetry
and literature earned him the title Adikabi. His birth
anniversary is celebrated as Bhanu Jayanti (13 July), when
academic programmes and poetry recitation activities are
held.
Bhanubhakta produced two notable works during his life. One
was the Bhanubhaktey Ramayan, while the other was a poetic
letter addressed to the Prime Minister during his time in
prison. He was imprisoned after becoming a scapegoat because
of a misunderstanding involving the signing of papers. While
in prison, he wrote the letter in verse. This work became one
of his important creations and helped him obtain his freedom.
He was also rewarded with a bag of money.
He passed away in 1868 without realizing the high position he
would eventually occupy in Nepali literary history. His
writings were not published while he was alive, so he did not
receive recognition for his contribution during his lifetime.
Later, Motiram Bhatta published his works in 1887. Even though
Bhanubhakta is one of Nepal's most celebrated and revered
poets, his works are not as famous as those of some other
poets in the history of Nepali literature.
📚 Grammar
B. Complete the following sentences with correct relative pronouns and write whether the clauses are defining or non-defining.
a. That’s the house where I was born.
b. My aunt Nita, who a journalist, is coming to visit next week.
c. People who like outdoor activities will love our holidays.
d. The early 1960s, when the Beatles first started, was a very exciting time in pop culture.
e. My essay on Shakespeare, which I found quite difficult, got a really good mark in the end.
f. The Mayans, who lived in Central America, built many stunning temples.
g. That’s the girl whose brother is in your class.
h. The snake that was in the garden last week belongs to our next-door neighbor.
C. Join the following pairs of sentences with an appropriate relative clause.
a. He is a musician. His albums have sold millions.
=> Answer: He is a musician whose albums have sold millions.
b. Amelia speaks English and Chines fluently. She is from Shanghai.
=> Answer: Amelia who is from Shanghai speaks English and Chines fluently.
c. That’s the stadium. Real Madrid plays there.
=> Answer: That’s the stadium where Real Madrid plays there.
d. Dublin is my favourite city. It is the capital of Ireland.
=> Answer: Dublin is my favourite city which is the capital of Ireland.
e. The person was really helpful. They spoke to him.
=> Answer: The person to whom they spoke was really helpful.
f. This smartphone takes great photos. I bought it last week.
=> Answer: This smartphone takes great photos which I bought it last week.