🏠 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 the following words.
| 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 become weak.
b. Why is the sister living with her mother?
=> Answer: The sister stays with her mother because she is a widow and no one else is available to look after her mother.
c. What is the sister’s attitude towards her brother?
=> Answer: The sister takes her brother’s behaviour seriously.
d. Does the son love his mother very much? How do you know that?
=> Answer: Yes, Gopi deeply cares for his mother. His affection becomes visible when he bends toward her and brings his face near her wrinkled cheeks.
e. What does the mother actually need: a blanket or the warmth of her son’s love?
=> Answer: What the mother truly needs is the emotional warmth of her son’s affection rather than merely a physical blanket. The blanket represents 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’ refers to 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: He remained silent because he had been separated from his mother for a long period. He had not written to her for a year and had not seen her for more than five years.
💭 Critical Thinking
a. What can be the expectations of the parents from their offspring at the old age?
Ans:
Parents may have different wishes from their children because every individual has different emotional needs. Therefore, children should make an effort to understand what their ageing parents expect and respond to those needs appropriately.
In old age, people often become more emotionally sensitive. After spending most of their lives working, earning, maintaining their families, and fulfilling responsibilities, they naturally expect to be treated with dignity. Respect and considerate behaviour become especially meaningful to them during this stage of life.
Retirement can also bring a major change to their daily routine. Once their professional responsibilities end, many elderly people have much more free time and may spend long periods alone. They may feel the absence of companionship and wish for someone with whom they can talk and share their thoughts.
Parents who once devoted their entire lives to managing the household or providing for the family may want their children to include them in everyday conversations and important decisions. Even small acts of involvement can help them feel valued and connected.
These are some common needs experienced by older parents, but their expectations are not identical. Children should therefore pay attention to the individual wishes and circumstances of their own parents.
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:
Living away from parents can happen for many practical reasons, including education, employment, or business. While pursuing these responsibilities, children often become occupied with their own goals and gradually devote less time to maintaining close contact with their parents.
Physical separation can eventually develop into emotional distance. A demanding schedule may reduce communication, and children may become so focused on career development and financial success that they overlook the emotional needs of their ageing parents. Although earning and saving money may be important, these achievements cannot replace affection and companionship.
Another reason may be the formation of a separate household. After getting married and starting their own families, some children give greater attention to their spouse and children while giving less consideration to their elderly parents. As a result, phone calls, visits, and regular communication may become less frequent.
Such neglect gradually damages the bond between parents and children. More importantly, it can leave elderly parents feeling isolated and unhappy during a stage of life when emotional support and family companionship are especially important.
c. A mother's love is everlasting and indispensable. Justify.
Ans:
A mother's affection holds a unique place in a child's life because it begins even before birth and continues through every stage of growth. From carrying her child before birth to protecting and caring for the child after birth, a mother remains deeply connected to her child's well-being.
During childhood, she becomes much more than a parent. She provides care, guidance, nourishment, protection, and companionship without demanding anything in return. She can simultaneously act as a teacher, mentor, friend, and caretaker, responding to her child's needs with patience and devotion.
A mother is often able to understand what her child needs even before the child can clearly express it. She remains closely involved in the child's development and teaches the difference between right and wrong. Through her guidance and encouragement, she helps the child develop good values and become a responsible human being.
Children may sometimes fail to recognize the importance of their mothers while growing up. However, a mother's presence and contribution are deeply valuable to their lives. She performs her responsibilities with sincere love and dedication. As a child's first teacher, she provides lessons that can guide the child throughout life and support future success.
📚 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.