π Reading & Grammar Notes
π Vocabulary
A. Learn these words and complete the following sentences using them.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| pilgrims | people who travel to a holy place for religious purposes |
| architecture | the design and style of buildings |
| charming | pleasant or attractive |
| allowance | an amount of money given regularly for a particular purpose |
| panoramic | showing a wide and complete view of an area |
Ans:
a. She studied the history of art and architecture at the university.
b. All the allowances of the city are resurfaced.
c. Many pilgrims visit the Muktinath Temple every year.
d. I found Nepali people charming and helpful.
e. One can enjoy the panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley from the top of the Dharahara.
B. Put these sentences from the text above in the correct order.
| Order | Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1 | It took seven hours for the writer to reach Tatopani. |
| 2 | The writer took a hot shower. |
| 3 | The writer spent a night in Pokhara and met her tour group. |
| 4 | The writer appreciated the hotel staff in Pokhara. |
| 5 | The tourist guide shared experiences about her life with the writer. |
| 6 | The writer, together with other members, visited Marpha village. |
=> Answer: a β c β d β f β b β e
C. Answer these questions.
a. Is it easy for non-Nepalis to enter Upper Mustang? Why?
=> Answer: No, entering Upper Mustang is not straightforward for non-Nepali visitors because they must obtain a special travel permit before going there.
b. Why was the writer given cushions and blankets at the hotel in Pokhara?
=> Answer: The hotel provided the writer with cushions and blankets so that she could remain warm and comfortable throughout the night.
c. Why do only a few tourists visit Nepal in January?
=> Answer: January attracts relatively few tourists because the Himalayan region experiences extremely cold weather during this period.
d. What was the Tatopani spring like?
=> Answer: Tatopani was a small, naturally formed pool that had a charming appearance.
e. Where does Kagbeni lie?
=> Answer: Kagbeni is situated beside the Kali Gandaki River.
f. What, according to the Buddhists, are the five elements of life?
=> Answer: According to Buddhist belief, the five elements of life are represented through the colours of flags: blue symbolizes sky, white symbolizes air, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth.
g. What is Marpha village known for?
=> Answer: Marpha village is famous for its apple trees and distinctive architecture.
h. Was the writer happy with her journey in the end? How do you know?
=> Answer: Yes, the writer was satisfied with the journey. On the final day, she woke up in Marpha feeling refreshed and warm, which shows that she had a positive experience.
π€ Grammar I
A. Complete these sentences with missing words/phrases from the reading text. Discuss with your friends to identify the tenses.
Ans:
a. Mustang has only been open to tourists since 1992.
(Present perfect tense)
b. On the first night, I stayed in Pokhara to meet up with my tour group.
(Past simple tense)
c. Next day, we continued our trip from Tatopani to Kagbeni.
(Past simple tense)
d. They have been symbolised in the colours of flags.
(Present perfect passive voice)
e. I felt refreshed and warm.
(Past simple tense)
B. Read the given paragraph carefully. Underline the verbs in the sentences and identify their tenses.
Ans:
Have you ever had a frightening experience? I have had one. Some years ago, I was heading to Biratnagar from Kathmandu by plane. It was alright at the beginning but suddenly a problem occurred. The captain of the plane said to us in a very calm voice, βLadies and gentlemen, weβre having a problem with one of the engines. Thereβs no need to panic but keep your seatbelts fastened. We are heading back to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu.β I felt a pain in my chest and people started to cry. After some time, we landed successfully back at the airport. I sighed with relief! Since then, I have decided not to travel in a plane.
| Verb / Verb phrase | Tense |
|---|---|
| have β¦ had | Present perfect |
| have had | Present perfect |
| was heading | Past continuous |
| was | Past simple |
| occurred | Past simple |
| said | Past simple |
| βre having | Present continuous |
| Thereβs | Present simple |
| are heading | Present continuous |
| felt | Past simple |
| started | Past simple |
| landed | Past simple |
| sighed | Past simple |
| have decided | Present perfect |
C. Fill in the blanks with one of the two alternatives given in the brackets.
Ans:
a. The sun set at 6 p.m. yesterday.
b. Get up! The sun has already risen.
c. Jackson has eaten his lunch. The plate is still on the table.
d. Jackson ate his lunch at 11:00 yesterday.
e. Levi and Simon have been friends for a long time.
f. Have you posted the letter last Sunday?
g. The Smiths have spent a week in Paris recently.
h. Megha ran two marathons last year. He could not succeed with either.
i. I lost my keys yesterday.
j. Sumina has lost her keys this evening. She is at my home.
D. Complete the given sentences with one of the suitable verb forms from the box.
[have forgotten, have washed, played, have finished, planted, bought, called, have not visited, havenβt eaten, went]
Ans:
a. Richard played football yesterday.
b. They have washed their car again. It looks new.
c. Last year, some of my friends went to Italy.
d. Juni and Bikram have finished their homework. Now, they can play.
e. I called my parents two days ago.
f. We have not visited another country before.
g. The Smiths bought a new house in 2001.
h. Iβm sorry, but I have forgotten to do my homework.
i. The girls havenβt eaten their lunch yet.
j. They planted some trees last week.
βοΈ Writing I
You must have had several memorable events in your life. Write two or three paragraphs about one of them. Include the answers to these questions in your paragraphs.
- β’What was the event about?
- β’When did it happen?
- β’What lesson did you learn from it?
ΰ€ΰ€€ΰ₯ΰ€€ΰ€° :
The Power of Hard Work and Belief
One experience that remains especially memorable to me was taking part in a public speaking competition at my school. The English department had arranged the programme, and students from different grades were allowed to participate.
I took part in the competition when I was in Grade Seven, near the end of the academic year. Since I had never faced such an event before, speaking before a large audience seemed challenging. I prepared my speech carefully and rehearsed it repeatedly. Although I became quite anxious when my turn arrived, I concentrated on my words and tried to speak naturally and confidently. My performance went well, and I was unexpectedly awarded first place.
This experience taught me that sincere effort and determination can produce results even when fear stands in the way. The preparation I had done helped me control my nervousness and perform effectively. More importantly, the experience strengthened my confidence and encouraged me to accept unfamiliar challenges instead of avoiding them.
π Unit 4.1 β A Diary Entry
A. Match the words in column A with their meanings in column B.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| bumpy | iii. (of a surface) uneven/not smooth |
| rural | iv. connected with or like the countryside |
| charming | i. very pleasant or attractive |
| tiring | vi. making you feel the need to sleep or rest |
| steep | ii. (of a slope) rising or falling quickly |
| admirable | v. deserving respect, excellent |
B. Decide whether these statements are True or False. Write NG (not given) if the information is not given.
| Statement | Answer |
|---|---|
| This was Neilβs first visit to Nepal. | True |
| He visited the village together with his friend from England. | False |
| Neil did not like the music and the song. | False |
| He admires the Nepali people. | True |
| Neil never closed his eyes throughout his journey so that he could enjoy the scenery. | False |
| Neil is going back to his homeland in the near future. | NG (Not Given) |
C. Answer these questions.
a. When did the writer visit a village in Dhading?
=> Answer: The writer travelled to a village in Dhading in 2022.
b. Why did the writer give some money to the boys on the bus?
=> Answer: The writer gave the boys some money because they were playing Nepali songs, and their music helped him feel connected with the local Nepali community.
c. Was the journey to the village comfortable for the writer? Why?
=> Answer: No, the journey was rather uncomfortable. The bus moved through winding, uneven roads, causing the writer to lose his balance and almost fall from his seat several times.
d. Why does the writer feel he needs to write diary during the day?
=> Answer: The writer prefers writing the diary during the daytime because by night he becomes too exhausted to write.
e. What did the writer like the most about Nepal?
=> Answer: What impressed the writer most was the friendliness and helpful nature of the Nepali people.
π€ Grammar II
A. Complete these sentences with the correct forms of the verbs. Use simple past or present perfect tenses. Use negative forms where necessary.
Ans:
a. A: Did you watch the movie βThe Queenβ?
B: No, I havenβt. Actually, I have never watched English movies.
b. Sam visited Bali a year ago.
c. My best friend and I have known each other for fifteen years. We meet very often.
d. Sunita is a fantastic writer. She has already written ten books.
e. We went on a picnic yesterday but my younger brother didnβt.
f. Ranjita: Did they play chess yesterday?
Dawa: No, they didnβt. I did, though.
g. Havenβt you brushed your teeth yet?
h. He hasnβt arrived here yet. He must have got stuck in the traffic.
i. βWhatβs wrong with you?β I have lost my pen.
B. Use present perfect or simple past forms of the verbs to make sentences from the given clues, as in the example.
Ans:
a. We have known each other since 2019.
b. Mohammad bought a house in July last year.
c. The Nepali Cricket Team has already won several matches.
d. I have never visited a museum.
e. Did people grow a lot of rice last year?
f. Phurba has sung a song just now.
g. Did Diana leave for England last week?
h. My parents have lived in Stockholm for several years.
i. It rained a lot last winter.
βοΈ Writing II
Write a short diary entry about one of your days this week. You can use Reading II as a model. Include the following.
- β’What activities you did
- β’How you felt when you got involved in those activities
- β’What you would have done differently
ΰ€ΰ€€ΰ₯ΰ€€ΰ€° :
Sunday, 8 May, 2023
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Today turned out to be a lively and productive day. I had several things to do, but each activity gave me a different experience and made the day enjoyable.
I began the morning by attending my regular classes at school. During science class, we carried out an interesting experiment by making small volcanoes with baking soda and vinegar. Watching the mixture bubble and erupt was exciting, and it increased my curiosity about chemical reactions.
Later in the afternoon, I met one of my close friends for lunch at a newly opened restaurant in town. We talked about different things, exchanged funny stories and enjoyed our meal together. I felt relaxed and happy because spending time with a good friend always makes me feel comfortable.
Looking back, I think I could have managed my time better and spent a little more time reviewing my schoolwork. Even so, the day was satisfying, and I am thankful for the enjoyable moments I experienced.
Until tomorrow,
[Your Name]