Unseen Reading Passage II

 4.  Read the following passage and do the activities that follow:                                                      15

The Trojan War is one of the most famous wars in history. It is well known for the 10-year duration, for the heroism of a number of legendary characters, and for the Trojan horse. What may not be familiar, however, is the story of how the war began.

According to Greek myth, the strife between the Trojans and the Greeks started at the wedding of Peleus, King of Thessaly, and Thetis, a sea nymph. All of the gods and goddesses had been invited to the wedding celebration in Troy except Eris, goddess of discord. She had been omitted from the guest list because her presence always embroiled mortals and immortals alike in conflict.

To take revenge on those who had slighted her, Eris decided to cause a skirmish. Into the middle of the banquet hall, she threw a golden apple marked “for the most beautiful.” All of the goddesses began to haggle over who should possess it. The gods and goddesses reached a stalemate when the choice was narrowed to Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Someone was needed to settle the controversy by picking a winner. The job eventually fell to Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, who was said to be a good judge of beauty. Paris did not have an easy job. Each goddess, eager to win the golden apple, tried aggressively to bribe him.

“I’ll grant you vast kingdoms to rule,” promised Hera. “Vast kingdoms are nothing in comparison with my gift,” contradicted Athena. “Choose me and I’ll see that you win victory and fame in war.” Aphrodite outdid her adversaries, however. She won the golden apple by offering Helen, daughter of Zeus and the most beautiful mortal in the land, to Paris. Paris, anxious to claim Helen, set off for Sparta in Greece.

Although Paris learned that Helen was married, he nevertheless accepted the hospitality of her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta. Therefore, Menelaus was outraged for a number of reasons when Paris departed, taking Helen and much of the king’s wealth back to Troy. Menelaus collected his loyal forces and set sail for Troy to begin the war to reclaim Helen.

A. Match the words in column 'A' with their meanings in column 'B':                                         7

Column 'A'                       Column 'B'

(a)    strife                          (i)    caused someone to become involved in an argument

(b)    embroiled                   (ii)   a fight between a small number of people

(c)    slighted                      (iii)  a situation in which nothing can change

(d)    skirmish                     (iv)  an enemy or opponent

(e)    haggle                        (v)   angry disagreements between groups of people

(f)     stalemate                    (vi)  small in amount

(g)    adversaries                 (vii) insulted someone by ignoring them

                                  (viii) to argue about the price of something

B. Answer the following questions:                                                                                                8

(a)   How long did the Trojan War last?

(b)   What is the Trojan War famous for?

(c)   What was the root cause of Trojan war?

(d)   Why did Eris throw a golden apple into the middle of the banquet hall?

(e)   What role did Paris get in this story?

(f)   Name the three beautiful goddesses mentioned in the story.

(g)   Who won the golden apple? And how?

(h)   How can the Trojan War be stopped? Give your personal opinion.

Home Assignment for Dashain Vacation 2078

Annapurna Secondary School Bharatpur-21, Parbatipur, Chitwan

Assignment for Dashain Vacation 2078

Grade: 10A                                              Subject: Com. English

Writing Exercises:

1) During the Dashain Vacation, watch anyone of the Hindi or Nepali movie on Television. And then         write a “Movie Review” on the film within 300 words.

2) Write a set of dialogue between you and your parents on the topic “Giving or Taking Dowry in my         Marriage”. Write down up to 12 chains.

3) Write the story of “The Ant and the Grasshopper” in about 200 words.

4) Write your personal experience how you observed the Dashain festival. (Write this on the second day     after Tika.)

Unseen Reading Passage - 1

3. Read the advertisement and answer the following questions:              10

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

Premiere International Pvt. Ltd., a leading importer and distributor of mobile phones, seeks dynamic, competent, enthusiastic and result oriented individuals for their upcoming international brands.
Country Manager – 1
Qualifications:
MBA or equivalent from a recognized university with at least 5-7 years of work experience in the field of marketing and sales of mobile phones.
Responsibilities:

• Responsible for managing over all operations within a country. This involves planning, distribution and creating networks all over Nepal.
• Ready to travel frequently all over Nepal.
• Able to develop and manage all the productivity of marketing plans and projects.
• Monitoring and reviewing all marketing activities and results.

Account Officer-2
Qualifications:
BBA or BBS with at least 2-3 years of work experience in relevant field.
Responsibilities:

• Proficient in accounting software like tally.
• Ensure all invoices supported by relevant approved documents.
• Check and prepare payments, petty cash, staff expenses and claims.

Salary is negotiable.
All the candidates meeting above criteria are requested to send their resume and cover letter mentioning the concerned position within 7 days of this advertisement to the following address:

GPO Box: 2531 No Telephone call will be entertained.

E-mail: premiereintal@wlink.com.np

A. Match the words in column 'A' with their meaning in column 'B'.                  5
    Column 'A'                 Column 'B'
    a. dynamic                  (i) proficient
    b. competent               (ii) interested
    c. enthusiastic             (iii) bio-data
    d. resume                    (iv) energetic
    e. entertained              (v) amused
                                        (vi) considered
B. Answer the following questions:                                                                          5
    a. What does Premiere International Pvt. Ltd. do?
    b. Mention the academic qualification and experience for the post of Country Manager?
    c. What are the required documents to apply?
    d. Write any three personal inherent features to be a potential candidate?
    e. When should the application be submitted?

Unseen Passage No. - 2

4. Read the following text and do the activities that follow:                               15
Ben jumped from bed as soon as the first bit of sun peeped through his window. He grabbed his backpack from his closet and opened it on the floor. Ben put in some of his favourite things to take with him on his trip to visit Grandpa. He put in a book on building forts, a book on making go-carts, and a new book he had got from the library about a kid detective who creates his own spy gear. He also put in a model car kit and his stuffed bear. He was ready to go!
Going to visit his grandfather for a week by himself was always Ben's favorite part of summer vacation. Grandpa would take him fishing and to baseball games. Grandpa also taught Ben how to fix things around the house. Last year, when he was eight years old, Ben had learned how to replace a broken doorknob and how to fix a leaky faucet. Grandpa was patient and did not mind taking many hours to show Ben how to use his tools.
Ben's mom stuck her head in his bedroom door. "Grandpa is here," she said with a smile. Ben grabbed his backpack and ran into kitchen where Grandpa was waiting. "Ready, big guy?" asked Grandpa. "Or do you want to eat breakfast before we leave?" "Ready," said Ben. As he kissed his mother goodbye, he felt his stomach rumble. "We can eat later!"

A. Choose the best answer to complete the following sentences:                      7
    a. When did Ben jump from bed?
        (i) in the morning           (ii) in the afternoon           (iii) in the evening
    b. How did Ben get a new book about a kid detective?
        (i) His grandpa gifted him.      (ii) He borrowed it from the library.    

        (iii) His mother bought it for him.
    c. Judging by the things Ben put in his backpack, what does he like to do most?
        (i) Make things           (ii) Ride go-carts          (iii) Spy on people
    d. What activity wouldn't Ben do with his grandfather?
        (i) go fishing          (ii) go to picnic          (iii) for baseball game
    e. What did he learn to do at the age of eight?
        (i) to cook rice      (ii) to replace the broken knob        (iii) to say goodbye.
    f. Where was his grandpa waiting for him?
        (i) in the kitchen      (ii) in the car        (iii) at the door
    g. What is the most likely reason Ben does not eat breakfast?
        (i) He is not hungry      (ii) He does not like his mother's cooking
        (iii) He wants to leave for his Grandpa's house.
B. Answer the following questions:                                                                   8
    a. Why did Ben jump out of his bed?
    b. Where was his backpack?
    c. What things did he put in his backpack?
    d. How long would Ben stay at his grandfather's house?
    e. According to the story, what is one of the things Ben's Grandpa taught him to do?
    f. What did his mother say?
    g. Where and at what time of the day does this story take place?
    h. Did Ben have his breakfast before he left home?

Unseen Passage No. - 3

4. Read the following text and do the activities that follow:                          15
It is pity and shameful to state that in caring and obeying parents is now in declining state as many of youth are going to the western way in the name of post modernizing with more and more elderly people being neglected by their children. Many children feel that spending some money for their parent's maintenance is enough to rid them of guilt. But a person who neglects his parents will be haunted by guilt forever and never live in peace and harmony. We must also remember one thing - our children are watching how we are dealing with our parents and this is the way they will treat their parents shabbily. We can expect the same from them.
It is essential to reciprocate the love our parents gave us. They sacrificed their comforts for ours. They stayed away through the nights so that we could sleep and they lived a life of difficulty so that we could fulfill our wants. In return, we cannot give them a little happiness during their twilight years, it will be the most shameful sin we commit. A man who take care of his parent's blessings. Looking after our parents will earn us blessing that will ensure joy and happiness in our lives.

A. Write 'True' for the true statements and 'False' for the false ones:              7
    a) The situation of caring elderly people is improving.
    b) Parents nowadays are perfectly obeyed.
    c) Many children think that funding their parents is enough.
    d) People who neglect their parents will be haunted by guilt.
    e) Our parents made no sacrifice for us.
    f) We will be blessed if we look after our parent in their old age.
    g) Western way of living is the cause of this.
B. Answer the following questions:                                                                      8
    a) What is the cause of declining the care of elderly people?
    b) What is the matter of pity?
    c) What type of people never live in peace and harmony?
    d) Why did the parents live a life of difficulty?
    e) What does 'reciprocate the love' mean?
    f) What will be the most shameful sin we commit?
    g) What do we get if we take care of our parents?
    h) What is the passage about?

Grammar Exercise - 1

9. Rewrite the following sentences as directed in the brackets:                      6
    a. I think they'll bunk the class, …………….? (question tag)
    b. You saw him at four yesterday. ('What time' question)
    c. I am fine, too. (negative statement)
    d. For the last ten years now, Mina (run) a grocery shop. (correct tense)
    e. Hemu said, 'You lost the match, didn't you?' (indirect speech)
    f. Who broke this glass? (passive voice)


Grammar Exercise - 2
10. Choose and copy the best answer: (Rewriting is not compulsory.)          5
One day two intimate friends were walking through a desert. ………. (At/In/From) a point during the trip they started arguing and one of the friends hit the other in the face. …….. (A/An/The) one that had been hit was hurt, but without a further word, wrote down in the sand: "Today my best friend hit me in the face."
They kept on walking ……. (after/when/until) they came across an oasis, where they decided to freshen up and bathe. But the one who …….. (had hit/had been hit/hit) before got caught in the mud and was about to drown, but the friends saved him. This event got him …….. (write/written/to write) down on a stone: "Today my best friend saved my life." The friend who had hit his best friend and then saved him asked why ……… (did he write/he has written/he had written) in the sand and then on the stone.
The other friend answered, "When someone hurts us, we …… (had to/has to/have to) write it down in sand so that the wind can forgive us by blowing it away. But if someone ……. (does/did/had done) something nice for us, we can engrave it in stone, where no wind can ever blow it away, ……..?" (can't it/don't it/can it) Doesn't this text ………. (give/gives/are given) us sweet lesson?

Grammar: Causative Verbs - Have, Make, Get, Let

Causative Verbs: Have, Make, Get, Let

The word ‘causative’ has the meaning of ‘somebody causes somebody to do something'. Some other verbs that are used to show causation are: let, help, cause, persuade, etc. Causative verbs in a sentence determine the forms of other verbs of that sentence.

Look at this picture. In this picture, the student is doing her homework - she is the doer or agent. The teacher is asking her to do her homework, i.e. the teacher causes the student to do her homework - the teacher is subject her. This picture can be interpreted in the following ways using causing verbs:


Make = force somebody to do something
The teacher made her student do the homework. (active form)
('Make' is not used in passive form)

Get = convince somebody to do something
The teacher got her student to do the homework. (active form)
The teacher got the homework done. (passive form)

Have = want (give sb responsibility) somebody to do something
The teacher had her student do the homework. (active form)
The teacher had the homework done. (passive form)

Let = permit/allow somebody to do something
The teacher let her student do the homework. (active form)
('Let' is not used in passive form)

Now, observe these rules and examples:

Exercise - CV1
Look at the picture of a washerman and a donkey, and fill in the blank space with the appropriate option given.

1. The washerman makes the donkey .......... the clothes. (carry, carried, to carry)
2. The washerman gets the donkey .............. the clothes. (carry, carried, to carry)
3. The washerman gets the clothes .............. every day. (carry, carried, to carry)
4. The washerman has the donkey ............. the clothes. (carry, carried, to carry)
5. The washerman has the clothes ............ every day. (carry, carried, to carry)
6. The washerman lets the donkey ............ the clothes. (carry, carried, to carry)
7. The washerman .............. the donkey carry the clothes. (make, gets, has)
8. The washerman ............... the donkey to carry the clothes. (makes, gets, has)
9. The washerman .............. the clothes carried every morning. (makes, gets, have)

Exercise - CV2
Rewrite the following sentences selecting the correct answer from the brackets:

1. The engineer got the workmen …… (built, build, to build) the bridge.        
   
2. We made the gardener …….. out the grass. (to cut, cut, cutting).     
   
3. My father got me ……… the homework. (doing, to do, do) 
   
4. I made my mother …….. new clothes. (buy, bought, to buy)
5. The teacher got Shyam …….. a glass of water. (bring, to bring, bringing, brings)
   
6. She didn't want to sing a song. I asked her she had to. I made her ……… a song. (to sing, sings, sing, sang)            
   
7. She is very cruel. She always makes her children ……. the hard work. (to do, do, does)     
   
8. My shoes are dirty. I will get the cobbler ……. them. (to polish, polish, to be polished, polished)
9. He made his sons …….. (work, to work, worked) hard.         
   
10. He got his wife …….. (call, called, to call) his sons. 
    
11. Rita got her dress ……. (washed, to wash, wash, washing).  
    
12. He made us …….. (sang, to sing, sing, singing) a song yesterday.   
    
13. He got his servant …… (clean/cleaned/to clean/cleans) the rooms.  
    
14. My daughter made me ……… (bought/to buy/buy) an expensive sari for her.
15. He is very lazy. He always …….. (make, makes, gets) his mother to clean his room.          
    
16. The teacher made the students …….. the exercise. (to do, does, do) 

Essay Writing: Our Culture, our Identity

Essay Topic: Out Culture, our Identity

People have their own customs, beliefs, art, way of life and social organizations. They are the backbone of civilization and identity. Nowadays, due to western influence we are neglecting our own culture and following the western culture. This leads us to nowhere. Write an essay on "Our Culture, our Identity" in about 300 words.

Our Culture, our Identity

Introduction: Whatever activities we follow in our everyday life for long, again and again, are our cultures. The culture is some kind of repeated behavior made by the particular community. Later on, those cultures are attached to the community so deeply that the community is identified by those cultures. People have their own cultures according to the place they live, and as per the religion they follow.

Body 1: (Nepalese cultures-food, clothes, greeting, etiquette, language) Nepalese people have distinct cultures in food, clothes, way of greeting, etiquette. We generally eat cooked plain rice with lentil gravy called daal and a mixed vegetable called tihun. Some eat paste of grain floor called dindo instead of rice. Some have chapatti. Daura and suruwal is our national costume for the male. For the female saari/ dhoti and blouse are common. Different castes have their own dress codes too. While greeting, we use the word 'Namaste' or 'Namaskar' and join the two open palms together and raise up to the chest. Various communities have their own way of greeting using specific words and physical gestures. We have our own language with a written script.

Body 2: (Rituals and traditions) During the lifetime, we observe different types of rituals and traditions. They vary according to the castes and religions. Some of the prominent events Nepalese people celebrate are - name-giving ceremony after the birth, weaning ceremony, wearing holy thread ceremony/ bratabandh, chhewar, wedding ceremony, religious rituals, different festivals celebration, funeral function, after-death function, etc.

Body 3: (Cultural interaction) Everything is changeable in this world. Even the culture is also changeable. We have to keep practicing our good cultures. Those cultures which are bad and impractical should be either reformed or avoided. Due to the influence of western cultures, Nepalese people are observing some of the trendy western cultures, such as celebrating birthdays and western festivals. Moreover, they have given up their own typical festivals and rituals.

Conclusion: Human beings have their own distinct cultures which are the symbols of their identity. Even an animal or a plant has its own features by which it is identified. If the plant or the animal loses its typical feature, it may lose its identity. In the same way, we have our own cultures which have been inherited from our prior generations. Those cultures are attached to us as our identity. If we leave those cultures, we lose our typical identity. Hence 'Our culture is our identity'.