12th English Unit 3 Prose: In Celebration of Being Alive – Book Back Answers

Warm Up

There are several physically-challenged people who have lived successful and meaningful lives. Here are a few personalities who have fought great odds and lived a life of blazing achievements.

Answer:

Textual Questions

1. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences based on your understanding of the lesson.

Question (a) What thoughts troubled Dr. Christiaan Barnard as he neared the end of his career as a heart surgeon?

Answer: The thought of why people should suffer troubled Barnard.

Question (b) What were Dr. Barnard’s feelings when he was hospitalized after an accident?

Answer: He experienced not only agony but also anger after they had met with an accident. He had eleven broken ribs and perforated lungs. His wife had a badly fractured shoulder. He could not understand why they should undergo pain when they had other important things to do in life during that time.

Question (c) When and where did the accident occur?

Answer: The accident occurred when Barnard and his wife crossed a street after having a lovely meal together.

Question (d) How did the hospitalization of Dr. Barnard and his wife affect their routine?

Answer: As a heart surgeon, he had to operate on many heart patients. He was helpless as he had perforated lungs and broken ribs. His wife could not take care of the baby. Thus the routine life of both Dr. Barnard and his wife was affected adversely.

Question (e) How was Dr. Barnard’s attitude to suffering different from that of his father’s?

Answer: Barnard did not find anything noble in a patient who moves restlessly in a mind clouded with agony. But his father was of the view that suffering makes one morally noble and a better person.

Question (f) How was the unattended trolley put to use?

Answer: The unattended trolley was taken possession of by two bold and daring boys who had a great ride with it.

Question (g) What roles did the duo take up?

Answer: The unattended trolley was commandeered by a crew of two boys. One served as the driver and the other as a mechanic.

Question (h) Why did the choice of roles prove to be easy for them?

Answer: The choice of roles proved to be easy for them because the mechanic was totally blind and the driver had only one arm.

Question (i) Who encouraged them and how?

Answer: They were encouraged by laughter and shouts of encouragement from the rest of the patients.

Question (j) What does Dr. Barnard compare this entertainment to?

Answer: Dr. Barnard compares this entertainment with that of the Indianapolis 500 car race.

Question (k) What happened in the grand finale?

Answer: There was a grand finale of scattered plates and silverware before the nurse and ward sister caught up with them.

Question (l) How does Dr. Barnard know the boy who played the trolley’s driver?

Answer: Dr. Barnard knew the boy as he had successfully closed a hole in his heart a few years earlier.

Question (m) What was the profound lesson that Dr. Barnard learned from the boys?

Answer: The boys had taught Dr. Barnard the lesson in getting on with the business of living. The business of living is the celebration of being alive.

Additional Questions

Question (a) What did the Grand Prix of the hospital teach the author?

Answer: The author found out that his perception of human suffering was incomplete. The boys taught him how the experience of suffering helps a person value life. This thought gave the author solace.

2. Answer the following questions in three or four sentences.

Question (a) Detail the statistics Dr. Barnard has provided in his speech.

Answer: Out of the 125 million children born, 12 million are unlikely to reach the age of one, six million die before the age of five and the rest end up with mental or physical disabilities.

Question (b) What happened when the doctor couple was crossing the street?

Answer: After a nice meal, Dr. Barnard and his wife were crossing the street. A car hit the doctor. He dashed against his wife who was thrown on the other side of the road. She was hit by another car from the opposite side.

Question (c) What injuries did they sustain in the accident?

Answer: Dr. Barnard had eleven broken ribs and a damaged lung. His wife had a badly fractured shoulder.

Question (d) Dr. Barnard couldn’t find any nobility in suffering. Why?

Answer: As a doctor, he does not find any nobility in suffering. There is nothing noble in a patient’s thrashing around in a sweat-soaked bed, mind clouded in agony. He was against his dad’s faith that suffering ennobles human beings.

Question (e) Why does Dr. Barnard find the suffering of children heartbreaking?

Answer: Dr. Barnard found the suffering of children heartbreaking as they trust the doctors and nurses totally and believe that they are going to help them. Even they are ready to accept their fate if something happened in an unlucky way.

Question (f) How did the boy who played the mechanic lose his eyesight?

Answer: The mechanic was seven years old. One night, when his drunk father tortured his mom, she threw a lantern at him. The lantern broke over the child’s head and shoulders. He suffered third-degree burns on the upper part of his body and lost both of his eyes.

Question (g) Why does Dr. Barnard describe the blind boy as a ‘walking horror’?

Answer: Dr. Barnard describes the blind boy as a “walking horror” because of his disfigured appearance. A long flap of skin hanging from the side of his neck. As the wound healed around his neck, his lower jaw became gripped in a mass of fibrous tissue.

Question (h) What were the problems the trolley driver suffered from?

Answer: The trolley’s driver had a malignant tumour of the bone. A few days before the race, his shoulder and arm were amputated. There was no hope of recovery.

Additional Questions

Question (a) How does suffering ennoble a person?

Answer: One does not become a better person because one has suffered. One becomes a better person because one has undergone suffering. One can’t appreciate light in the absence of darkness.

# 3. Answer the following in a paragraph of 100 – 150 words each.

Question (a) Give an account of the medical problems for which the two boys were hospitalized.

Answer: The mechanic, who was all of seven years, suffered severe third-degree burns on the upper portion of his body and lost both his eyes. He had a long flap of skin hanging from the side of his neck down to his body. As the wound healed around his neck, his lower jaw got gripped in a mass of fibrous tissue. The poor little fellow could open his mouth only when he raised his head. Owing to this disfigured appearance, Dr. Barnard called him a ‘walking horror’. As for the trolley’s driver, he had a hole in his heart which Dr. Barnard had successfully closed a few years earlier. He was later admitted again as he had a malignant tumour of the bone, and his shoulder and arm had to be amputated. There was very little hope of his recovery.

Question (b) “These two children had given me a profound lesson …” Elucidate.

Answer: The author was wallowing in self-pity and cursing the accident that had brought him and his wife great pain and inconvenience in their day-to-day routine. But the two little boys—one almost scarred to death with both eyes gone, and the other with an amputated arm and no hope of recovery—were together celebrating the joy of being alive. They went about the business of living, ignoring pain, surgery and the sickly hospital environment. From them, Dr. Barnard learnt a profound lesson: the business of living is joy in the real sense of the word. It is not merely something meant for pleasure, amusement or recreation. The business of living is, in truth, the celebration of being alive.

Question (c) Describe the ‘Grand Prix’ at Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital.

Answer: One morning, Dr. Barnard witnessed what he calls the ‘Grand Prix’ of Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital, which made him perceive a new dimension of life. A nurse had left a breakfast trolley unattended, and it was soon commandeered by two bold and daring boys. One acted as the driver and the other as the mechanic. The choice of roles suited them perfectly, for the mechanic was totally blind and the driver had only one arm. The other patients cheered them on with shouts and laughter. It was far better entertainment than anything one sees at the Indianapolis 500 car race. The grand finale was a scattering of plates and silverware before the nurse and ward sister caught up with them. After the race, the driver, who had little hope of recovery, proudly told Dr. Barnard that though the trolley’s wheels were not properly oiled, he was a good driver and had full confidence in the mechanic. This made Dr. Barnard realise that the business of living is the celebration of being alive.

Question (d) How did a casual incident in a hospital help Dr. Barnard perceive a new dimension of life?

Answer: Initially, Dr. Barnard was grumbling and wondering why on earth he and his wife should have been subjected to such agony and inconvenience. He could not accept his father’s view that suffering ennobles human beings. But the little boys taught him a profound lesson of life. One should get on with the business of living, no matter what misfortune strikes one. You do not become a better person because you have suffered; suffering by itself does not ennoble you. You become a better person because you have experienced suffering. It is not what you have lost that matters; what matters is what you have left. We can appreciate light better once we have known darkness. Likewise, we can appreciate warmth only after we have suffered cold.

Question (e) Life is unjust and cruel to certain people. Do they all resign themselves to their fate? Can you think of some who have fought their disabilities heroically and remained a stellar example for others? Give an account of one such person and his/her struggle to live a fruitful life.

Answer: Alexis Leon lives in Kakkanad, Kerala. He passed his B.Tech from the University of Kerala with the first rank and then went on to do his M.Tech. In 1993, he met with an accident which left him paralysed from the chest down and confined him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. After a brief spell of dejection owing to a suspended marriage, he made up his mind to write books. He has since written 50 books for engineering graduates. His notable works include ‘Internet for Everyone’ and ‘A Guide to Software Configuration Management’. He is also a mentor at the International Mentoring Network Association and offers software consultancy to international IT companies. He travels across the world, delivering lectures to graduates and corporates. His indomitable will has made him strong, and he has become a lighthouse for many aspirants in the software industry.

Additional Questions

(a) What did Dr. Christiaan Barnard know about the mechanic and his family?

Answer: The mechanic was a boy of seven years. Both his parents were drunk and quarrelling, and in a fit of rage his mother threw a lantern at his father. It missed the father but struck the boy. He suffered severe third-degree burns on the upper part of his body and lost both his eyes in the process. His face became disfigured, and he was a walking horror, with a long flap of skin hanging from the side of his neck down to his body.

Vocabulary

(a) Go through the lesson and spot the words which mean the same as the following.

(b) Go through the lesson and spot the words opposite to the meaning of the following.

# (c) Frame illustrative sentences to distinguish the meaning of the words in the following clusters.

Question 1. career – carrier – courier

Answer:

• Dr. Christiaan Barnard’s career as a heart surgeon was full of remarkable achievements.

• The hospital attendant carried the patient’s reports in a brown carrier bag.

• The courier delivered the medical reports to the hospital on Sunday itself.

Question 2. patients – patience – patents

Answer:

• A large number of patients were waiting outside Dr. Barnard’s consultation room.

• The patience of the young nurse was sorely tested by the restless children in the ward.

• Dr. Barnard’s surgical techniques earned him many patents in the field of medicine.

Question 3. accident – incident – incidence

Answer:

• Dr. Barnard and his wife met with a dreadful accident while crossing the street after a lovely meal.

• The incident of the two boys racing the breakfast trolley brought joy to the entire ward.

• The rising incidence of heart ailments among children worried Dr. Barnard greatly.

Question 4. scraping – scrapping – scrubbing

Answer:

• The trolley driver steered the vehicle by scraping his foot along the floor.

• The scrapping of the old hospital trolley was ordered after it became unsafe for use.

• The nurse spent a long time scrubbing the stains off the hospital floor after the Grand Prix.

Question 5. accept – except – expect

Answer:

• The little boy could not accept the fact that he had lost both his eyes.

• All the children in the ward were cheerful, except the new boy who had just been admitted.

• Dr. Barnard did not expect to learn such a profound lesson from two disabled children.

Question 6. lesson – lessen – lesion

Answer:

• The two brave boys taught Dr. Barnard a great lesson in the business of living.

• The medicine given by the nurse helped lessen the pain of the little boy’s burns.

• The thorn caused a deep lesion on the mechanic boy’s forearm.

Question 7. severe – sever – sewer

Answer:

• The seven-year-old mechanic suffered severe third-degree burns on the upper part of his body.

• It is not easy to sever the bond of love between a mother and her child.

• The hospital authorities laid new sewers to keep the premises clean and hygienic.

Question 8. raise – rise – rice

Answer:

• The little boy had to raise his head just to open his mouth because of his injuries.

• The rise in the number of disabled children in the hospital deeply saddened Dr. Barnard.

• The patients in the children’s ward were served soft rice and dal for lunch.

Question 9. quiet – quite – quit

Answer:

• The hospital ward became quiet after the nurse put the two mischievous boys back to bed.

• The Grand Prix of the two boys was quite better entertainment than the Indianapolis 500 car race.

• The trolley driver, who had little hope of recovery, refused to quit and proudly claimed he was a good driver.

Question 10. final – finale – feline

Answer:

• The final scene of the Grand Prix was a heap of scattered plates and silverware on the floor.

• The finale of the trolley race ended only when the ward sister caught the two boys.

• The little boy moved with the grace of a feline creature despite his amputated arm.

(d) Fill in the blanks with the words given in brackets.

[profound, amusement, confidence, agony, solace, intrepid, disfigured, perforated]

1. Theatrical plays were a main source of amusement before the advent of television.

2. The intrepid warriors of the Spartan Army marched into battle against a powerful enemy.

3. The agony of parents finally came to an end when their lost child was found.

4. Social media has brought about a profound impact on the lives of millennials.

5. The tyres of the car got perforated when the vehicle rolled over the rusted nails scattered on the road.

6. Thomas Alva Edison did not lose his confidence, even after facing a series of experimental failures in his quest to discover tungsten.

7. Many victims of the pipeline explosion in an oil refinery were left permanently disfigured.

8. The old lady found solace in the company of the children in the neighbourhood.

(e) Form a phrase with each of the following.

• muscle + pain – muscular pain

• skeleton + system – skeletal system

• nerve + disorder – nervous disorder

• digestion + enzymes – digestive enzyme

• surgery + instruments – surgical instruments

• agony + experience – agonising experience

• glory + victory – glorious victory

• fancy + idea – fanciful idea

• emotion + song – emotional song

• sense + issue – sensitive issue

(f) Fill the empty boxes with suitable words under each word class.

(g) Spot the errors in the following sentences and rewrite them correctly.

Question 1. My grandfather is well-known in the village for his Nobel deeds.

Answer: My grandfather is well-known in the village for his noble deeds.

Question 2. I had my evening meals in a restaurant near my office.

Answer: I had my dinner in a restaurant near my office.

Question 3. The Boss had full confidence on his Manager for the successful completion of the project.

Answer: The Boss had full confidence in his Manager for the successful completion of the project.

Question 4. After the complicated surgery, the patient hoped of a complete recovery.

Answer: After the complicated surgery, the patient hoped for complete recovery.

Question 5. The new health care scheme announced by the Government will bring relief to the children suffering from acute tuberculosis.

Answer: The new health care scheme announced by the Government will bring relief to the children suffering from acute tuberculosis. (No error)

Question 6. In spite of his poverty and setbacks, he was able to launch his dream carrier.

Answer: In spite of his poverty and setbacks, he was able to launch his dream career.

Listening Activity

Listen to the passage being read out. Based on your understanding, complete the statements given below with appropriate answers.

Boredom

We have all experienced boredom sometime or the other. Boredom occurs when a person is unable to stay attentive. It is something more than an unpleasant feeling. It can make you angry and frustrated and lead to negative physical health consequences.

How boredom affects one physically

A study reveals that when a person is affected by acute boredom his eyelids droop and the face assumes a frown. There is a gradual loss of ability to coordinate movements. These symptoms are accompanied by mental fatigue and a slowing down of thought processes. A bored person at work is likely to make many more errors than one who is not bored. We should never let boredom take charge. There are several easy ways to overcome boredom.

Here are a few practical suggestions:

• Set goals for yourself, work towards them.

• Develop an interest in hobbies and crafts.

• Socialize, stay in the company of cheerful people.

• Take up a charitable cause.

• Exercise regularly.

Coming out of boredom will feel like breaking free from a cold, dark room into the outdoors on a warm, sunny day.

Questions:

1. Boredom occurs when a person is unable to stay attentive.

2. Anger and frustration are emotional consequences of boredom.

3. Two physical signs of acute boredom are (a) drooping eyelids (b) frown.

4. How does boredom affect the quality of work a person does? A bored person commits a lot of errors in his work.

5. Mention two ways by which one can overcome boredom. (a) Goal setting (b) stay in the company of cheerful people

# Speaking Activity

1. You are rushing to attend to important work and you witness an accident on your way. Will you go to the rescue of the injured person? Share your views with the class.

Answer: There is nothing more precious than human life. I would set aside whatever urgent work I have in hand and at once call 108 and summon the ambulance. I will try to get the contact number of the next of kin of the injured person, if he or she is conscious. I will inform them of the incident without causing panic. I will accompany the injured person to the hospital. In our NSS team, we have a blood donors WhatsApp group. I will find out if blood is required and inform my blood donor group so that blood is arranged for the injured person. Only after the doctor confirms that the injured person is out of danger will I leave the place.

I draw my inspiration to help people in distress from the life of Abraham Lincoln. He was a budding lawyer. He had to walk two hours to reach the court. On his way, he found a pig sinking in the mud and grunting in agony. The poor creature was scared that it would die. Abraham Lincoln was wearing his only best dress. He just got into the mud, lifted the pig and left it safely on the hard surface. When he reached the court, everyone laughed at his dirty coat, but Abraham Lincoln just smiled and argued well in favour of his innocent client and got him acquitted too.

2. Every person should take up the responsibility to serve society in his or her own way. Discuss the various ways in which you can serve society.

Answer: Our elders keep telling us that students should not enter into politics and should instead focus on studies and scoring high marks. I have a sincere feeling that life is much more than marks. Students can do a lot of service which would certainly make society a better place. Though the state government has banned the use of single-use plastics, it is still widely used. Hot sambar and tea are packed in small plastic bags, and people just use them without a second thought.

We can create awareness among all sellers and buyers in places where a large number of people gather, that by eating hot things from single-use plastic bags, we are increasing the chances of getting cancer. The plastic covers thrown away carelessly do not degenerate for hundreds of years; they do not allow percolation of rainwater, and soon after the rains, we suffer from water scarcity. The rainwater simply runs away and joins the oceans.

We can explain the importance of rainwater harvesting and make farming practices economically viable. During elections, we can campaign for the judicious use of voting rights to elect a person who has both the capacity and the love for citizens to serve without expecting anything in return. We can also spread the message of hygiene among the masses.

(a) Pair work: Practise the dialogue with another student. Then write a similar dialogue between a student and the class teacher regarding an educational trip.

Teacher: We plan to go on an excursion.

Student A: Where sir?

Teacher: We will discuss and finalise it today.

Student B: Sir, how about Vandaloor Zoo?

Teacher: It is a very hot season now, all the animals will be taking shelter under distant trees.

Student A: We can’t see all of them. What about Vedanthangal?

Teacher: No, only after the rains foreign birds visit it.

Student B: What about Birla Planetarium?

Teacher: Fine, that is a good choice. We will go there next week.

(b) Build a conversation for the following situations with a minimum of five exchanges.

1. A passenger and a railway staff regarding the cancellation of the reserved tickets.

Build a conversation for the following situations with a minimum of five exchanges.

1. A passenger and a railway staff regarding the cancellation of the reserved tickets.

Passenger: Good morning, sir. I want to cancel a reserved ticket, please.

Clerk: Good morning. When was the journey planned, sir?

Passenger: Sir, the journey is next Monday, the 23rd of March. I have my ticket and the filled-in cancellation form here.

Clerk: Well, there are still three days left. May I see your ticket and ID proof, please?

Passenger: Yes, sir. Here they are. Kindly tell me how much will be deducted.

Clerk: We will deduct only the reservation charges, and you will get the balance amount. The refund is Rs. 280, sir. Please count it and check.

Passenger: Thank you very much, sir. Everything is correct.

Clerk: You are welcome. Have a nice day, sir.

2. Two friends about the NSS camp which they are going to attend.

2. Two friends about the NSS camp which they are going to attend. Ahmed and Sebastin

Ahmed: Sebastin, I am leaving for the NSS camp tomorrow. Are you also coming?

Sebastin: Yes, Ahmed. How many days is the camp?

Ahmed: It is for one week. We are going to Madagupatti village.

Sebastin: That village has no electricity, isn’t it?

Ahmed: Yes, that is why we are going there — to help the villagers in whatever small ways we can.

Sebastin: What work will we do there?

Ahmed: We will deepen the lakes, clean the streets, and remove the thorny bushes from the school and temple premises.

Sebastin: That sounds like a lot of hard work.

Ahmed: Yes, but we will also conduct a medical camp with the help of doctors.

Sebastin: That sounds exciting. I will also join you.

Ahmed: That is good, Sebastin. But remember, we must report at the NSS office sharp at 6 a.m.

3. A salesman and a customer at an electronic shop.

Salesman: Good evening, sir. Welcome to our shop. What can I do for you?

Customer: Good evening. We bought a Smart TV from your shop last week, and it is not working properly.

Salesman: I am sorry to hear that, sir. May I know what exactly the problem is?

Customer: The picture goes off suddenly, and sometimes there is no sound at all.

Salesman: Maybe the problem is with your dish antenna or cable connection, sir.

Customer: No, we have already checked all that. The fault is only with the TV.

Salesman: I see. Please leave your address and phone number with me. I will send our TV mechanic to your house within half an hour.

Customer: Thank you. Here is my address and phone number. Please make sure he comes today itself.

Salesman: Certainly, sir. We will get it set right at the earliest. Sorry for the trouble caused.

4. A father and his daughter about the advantages of the habit of newspaper-reading.

4. A father and his daughter about the advantages of the habit of newspaper-reading.

Father: Maydhini, my dear, you must cultivate the habit of reading the newspaper daily.

Maydhini: How does it help me, Dad? Will they ask questions from the newspaper in the examination?

Father: No, dear. Newspapers help you know about the world around you — what is happening in our country and abroad.

Maydhini: But I am a small girl, Dad. Are there sections in the newspaper that will have things to my taste?

Father: Why not? You can read the Young World supplement in The Hindu. In fact, children write and send things to be published there.

Maydhini: Can I also send my puzzles and paintings to them?

Father: Yes, of course. And reading the newspaper daily will also improve your English and general knowledge.

Maydhini: That sounds nice, Dad. From tomorrow, I will read the newspaper every day without fail.

Father: That is like my good girl. Reading the newspaper daily is a habit that will stand you in good stead all your life.

(c** **# Extend the conversation with two more relevant exchanges.

Question 1.

Receptionist: Good evening, sir. Welcome to Chennai.

Traveller: I would like to book a deluxe room in your hotel for 3 days.

Receptionist: How many people intend to stay, sir?

Traveller: Three members — my wife, my son and myself.

Receptionist: For a Deluxe A/C room, the charge is Rs. 5000 per day, and for a Non A/C room, it is Rs. 3500 per day, sir.

Traveller: If it includes GST, please book a Deluxe A/C room. Take my card and book the room.

Receptionist: Certainly, sir. May I have your ID proof for verification, please?

Traveller: Yes, here is my Aadhaar card. Please complete the formalities quickly, as we are tired after a long journey.

Receptionist: Thank you, sir. Your room is booked on the third floor. The bell boy will take your luggage. Wish you a pleasant stay in Chennai.

Question 2.

Extend the conversation with two more relevant exchanges.

Question 2.

Student: Good morning, sir. May I come in?

Teacher: Good morning. Why are you late today?

Student: There was a traffic jam, sir.

Teacher: Why? What was the reason for the jam?

Student: A political party had staged a protest, blocking all the vehicles on the road. I was stranded and helpless, sir.

Teacher: Oh! The politicians should keep in mind the difficulties that common people face when they do such protests. Well, did you at least inform your parents?

Student: Yes, sir. I called my mother from a shop nearby and told her that I would be late.

Teacher: That is good. Anyway, go to your seat now and attend the classes. Make sure you leave home a little early from tomorrow.

Student: Thank you, sir. I will definitely leave early from tomorrow.

Reading

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Humans have long been fascinated by fiction. We experience the excitement in assigning supernatural power to imaginary characters in fictional stories – and so we have Spiderman, Batman, He-man, Titans, and many more. The ‘Cyborg’ was an offshoot of such wild imagination of humans to invest our species with superhuman powers. Today, the Cyborg is no more an imaginary organism. We are living in a world where a sizeable population of humans has merged their bodies with technological implants. The term ‘Cyborg’, short for ‘cybernetic organism’, was coined to describe a man whose body is implanted with technological devices to supplement and substitute body functions.

Cyborgs include people with cardiac pacemakers, contact lenses, bionic ears and eyes, prosthetics, and so on. In other words, a cyborg is partly human and part machine. The technological innovations in the field of medicine and healthcare augment humans with machines, producing a beta version of the human body. The advent of brain-machine interfaces is certain to blur the boundary between humans and machines. Scientists are working hard to find a technique for age reversal too. People do not want to die, so mankind is striving to get to the final frontier, which is the development of machines and devices that would accord man immortality.

The needs of humans are not limited. As time passes, food habits change, thinking patterns change, and even appearances change. We are about to travel by driverless, fully automated vehicles. Computers and smartphones have become our masters. The more we depend and merge with technological advancements, the more the humanness in us slowly erodes. Intelligence is sought to be infused into machines and robotics are designed in such a way to give a man a virtual human companion.

The field of artificial intelligence is overtaking the human brain and many fear that it could even harm the human race. Despite certain limitations and potential threats, many believe that cyborgs will be the next step in the evolution of mankind. The amalgamation of man and machine is sure to add a new dimension to the life of mankind and this will prove to be the ‘biggest evolution in Biology’ since the emergence of life, four billion years ago.

Question (a) Account for the popularity of characters with supernatural powers.

Answer: Human beings want to achieve things far above their natural capacity. The superheroes like Spiderman, Batman, and He-man do great feats on screen. So, people like them.

Question (b) Who is referred to as a ‘Cyborg’?

Answer: A Cyborg is a man whose body is implanted with technological devices to supplement and substitute body functions. In other words, a cyborg is partly human and part machine.

Question (c) What is expected to happen with the advent of the brain-machine interface?

Answer: With the advent of the brain-machine interface, the boundary between humans and machines is certain to blur.

Question (d) The needs of humans are not limited. How is this statement elaborated in the passage?

Answer: As time passes, food habits change, thinking patterns change, and even appearances change. We are about to travel by driverless, fully automated vehicles. Computers and smartphones have become our masters.

Question (e) How can a machine turn into a virtual companion for humans?

Answer: Intelligence is sought to be infused into machines, and robotics are designed in such a way as to give a man a virtual human companion.

Question (f) Explain the flipside of the rapid technological advancement.

Answer: The more we depend and merge with technological advancements, the more the humanness in us slowly erodes.

Question (g) Identify the word in para 2 which means ‘everlasting life’.

Answer: Immortality in para 2 means ‘everlasting life’.

Question (h) Which of the following words is synonymous with ‘amalgamation’?

(a) recreation

(b) integration

(c) exploration

(d) proposition

Answer: (b) integration

Question (i) Which of the following options is the antonym of the word ‘advent’?

(a) drawback

(b) dispute

(c) departure

(d) danger

Answer: (c) departure

Question (j) Find out the word which is the antonym of ‘natural’ in para 2.

Answer: Prosthetics

Grammar

Tenses

Task 1: Change the following sentences into Passive Voice.

Question (a) The Governor inaugurated the exhibition at ten o’clock.

Answer: The exhibition was inaugurated by the Governor at ten o’clock.

Question (b) The crowd expected their leader to arrive early in the morning.

Answer: The leader was expected to arrive early in the morning.

Question (c) Who taught her Computer Science?

Answer: By whom was she taught Computer Science?

Question (d) They unanimously named Ravi the captain of the team.

Answer: Ravi was named the captain of the team unanimously.

Question (e) The President gave the commander an award.

Answer: An award was given to the commander by the President.

Question (f) Do not tell a lie.

Answer: Let not a lie be told.

Question (g) Please open the door.

Answer: Let the door be opened, please.

Question (h) It is time to stop work.

Answer: It is time for the work to be stopped.

Question (i) They say he is a spy.

Answer: It is said that he is a spy.

Question (j) One should keep one’s promise.

Answer: The promise must be kept.

Question (k) People burn a great deal of wood in winter.

Answer: A great deal of wood is burnt in the winter by people.

Question (l) Where had you kept the book?

Answer: Where had the book been kept by you?

Question (m) When did you feel the tremors?

Answer: When were the tremors felt by you?

Question (n) How did you do the experiment?

Answer: How was the experiment done by you?

Question (o) Whose car did someone park in front of your gate?

Answer: Whose car was parked in front of your gate?

Task 2: Change the following sentences into Active Voice.

Question (a) The smuggler has been nabbed by the police.

Answer: The police have nabbed the smuggler.

Question (b) By whom were you interviewed?

Answer: Who interviewed you?

Question (c) Why were you scolded by your parents?

Answer: Why did your parents scold you?

Question (d) Not a word was spoken by the convict in self-defence.

Answer: The convict spoke not a word in self-defence.

Question (e) Good news is expected shortly.

Answer: We expect good news shortly.

Question (f) The mail has just been received.

Answer: We have received the mail just now.

Question (g) Sundari has been taken to hospital by her husband.

Answer: Sundari’s husband has taken her to the hospital.

Question (h) Our television is being repaired now.

Answer: We are repairing our TV now.

Question (i) Sweets have not been distributed to children by the organisers.

Answer: The organisers have not distributed sweets to children.

Question (j) Prizes were being given by the chief guest.

Answer: The chief guest was giving prizes.

Question (k) Nobody has been seen in the library this week.

Answer: The librarian has not seen anybody in the library this week.

Question (l) Nobody would have known the truth if you had not disclosed it.

Answer: Nobody would have known the truth if you had not disclosed it. (No change needed)

Question (m) You are advised to help the poor and needy.

Answer: Help the poor and the needy.

Question (n) You are requested to make a cup of tea for the guest.

Answer: Please make a cup of tea for the guest.

Interrogations Or Questions

Task 1: Add suitable question tags to the following sentences and punctuate them properly.

Question 1. The children are very happy today.

Answer: The children are very happy today, aren’t they?

Question 2. You have not returned my books yet.

Answer: You have not returned my books yet, have you?

Question 3. We enjoyed the trip very much.

Answer: We enjoyed the trip very much, didn’t we?

Question 4. Let’s clean the shelves this weekend.

Answer: Let’s clean the shelves this weekend, shall we?

Question 5. My mother rarely travels by bus.

Answer: My mother rarely travels by bus, does she?

Question 6. Somebody must bell the cat.

Answer: Somebody must bell the cat, mustn’t they?

Question 7. Anita never comes late to the office.

Answer: Anita never comes late to the office, does she?

Question 8. I am always the winner.

Answer: I am always the winner, aren’t I?

Question 9. Don’t commit this mistake again.

Answer: Don’t commit this mistake again, will you?

Question 10. There is a pharmacy near that bus stand.

Answer: There is a pharmacy near that bus stand, isn’t there?

Question 11. Bacteria can never survive in extreme weather conditions.

Answer: Bacteria can never survive in extreme weather conditions, can they?

Question 12. I am not as smart as you are.

Answer: I am not as smart as you are, am I?

Question 13. The boys broke the windowpane last evening.

Answer: The boys broke the windowpane last evening, didn’t they?

Question 14. Leaves wither during autumn.

Answer: Leaves wither during autumn, don’t they?

Question 15. You should add a little salt to the buttermilk.

Answer: You should add a little salt to the buttermilk, shouldn’t you?

Task 2: Correct the error found in the question tag in each of the following.

Question 1. The evildoers cannot cross the path of truth, can’t they?

Answer: The evildoers cannot cross the path of truth, can they?

Question 2. The vegetables in the fridge are still fresh, isn’t it?

Answer: The vegetables in the fridge are still fresh, aren’t they?

Question 3. The village head understood the intention of the politician, doesn’t he?

Answer: The village head understood the intention of the politician, didn’t he?

Question 4. I claim to be a person of faith and prayer, aren’t I?

Answer: I claim to be a person of faith and prayer, don’t I?

Question 5. The employees are seldom allowed to meet their boss, aren’t they?

Answer: The employees are seldom allowed to meet their boss, are they?

Question 6. Let’s organize a trip to Goa, can we?

Answer: Let’s organize a trip to Goa, shall we?

Question 7. The landlady will charge me for the damage, shan’t she?

Answer: The landlady will charge me for the damage, won’t she?

Question 8. Both the sisters have left for Canada, aren’t they?

Answer: Both the sisters have left for Canada, haven’t they?

Question 9. That’s definitely not the right thing to do in this situation, isn’t that?

Answer: That’s definitely not the right thing to do in this situation, is it?

Question 10. We needn’t apply for a bank loan, do we?

Answer: We needn’t apply for a bank loan, need we?

Question 11. The Chief Guest spoke a few words, did he?

Answer: The Chief Guest spoke a few words, didn’t he?

Question 12. The rhinoceros has a horn made of keratin, haven’t they?

Answer: The rhinoceros has a horn made of keratin, hasn’t it?

Writing

Story Writing

Task 1: Expand the following outlines into complete stories and supply a suitable title for each.

Question 1. Big cotton merchant – owned a factory – many employees – one day a heap of cotton stole – no clue – merchant’s secretary assured to find out – asked him to host dinner – invite all workers – merchant agreed – middle of the feast – secretary suddenly shouted – cotton sticking to hair of thieves – the guilty dusted their heads – tried to clear – caught in the trap – punished.

Answer:

Title: The Cotton Trap

Once upon a time, there lived a big cotton merchant in a small town. He owned a large cotton factory, and many employees worked under him. One day, a heap of cotton was stolen from the factory. The merchant was greatly worried, for he had no clue whatsoever as to who had stolen it. He questioned all his workers, but no one came forward with the truth.

The merchant’s secretary was a clever and loyal woman. She assured him that she would find out the thief. She asked him to host a grand dinner and invite all the workers to it. The merchant agreed to her plan at once.

On the appointed day, all the workers gathered for the feast. The dinner was in full swing, and everyone was enjoying the food. Suddenly, in the middle of the feast, the secretary shouted at the top of her voice, “Look! There is cotton sticking to the hair of the thieves!” The guilty workers, taken by surprise, immediately dusted their heads and tried to clear the cotton from their hair. The others simply looked on in confusion.

In this way, the culprits were caught red-handed in the trap laid by the clever secretary. They were sacked from their jobs as a punishment for their theft. Thus, the cleverness of the secretary saved the merchant’s wealth and taught the thieves a bitter lesson.

Question 2. Mr. X, a rich businessman – runs a company – always very busy with office work – one day his son – 10 years old – approaches dad and asks – how much he earns in one hour – father gets furious – boy persuades – father says Rs. 500 – immediately son asks for Rs. 300 – father shouts – wasting money on toys – son leaves to his room crying – father feels bad – thinks might need some stationery – enters boy’s room and gives money – boy becomes happy – takes some crumpled notes – under his pillow – counts everything together – total Rs. 500 – gives it to dad – wants to buy – one hour of his time – father realizes his mistake – feels sorry and guilty – hugs son – closes all office files – takes him on a picnic – decides to spend more time with near and dear ones.

Answer:

Title: One Hour of Dad’s Time

Mr. X was a rich businessman who ran a big company. He was always very busy with his office work and had hardly any time to spare for his family. Like a snail, he carried his office work everywhere with him.

One day, his ten-year-old son approached him and asked, “Dad, how much do you earn in one hour?” The father got furious at this question and refused to reply. But the boy kept persuading him again and again. At last, the father grudgingly said, “Rs. 500 an hour.”

Immediately, the boy asked his father to give him Rs. 300. The father shouted at him, saying that he was wasting money on toys. The boy felt hurt and went to his room crying without having his dinner.

After some time, the father felt bad about his behaviour. He thought that the boy might really need the money for buying some stationery. So he entered the boy’s room and gave him the money. The boy became very happy. He then took out some crumpled notes from under his pillow and counted everything together. The total came to Rs. 500.

The boy handed the money to his father and said, “Dad, this is the amount you earn in one hour. I have given you that money. Now, will you spend one hour with me?” The father was stunned. He realized his mistake and felt sorry and guilty. He hugged his son tightly, closed all his office files, and took him out on a picnic. From that day onwards, he decided to spend more time with his near and dear ones.

Task 2: Continue and complete the following stories and suggest suitable titles for the same.

Question 1. A rich man had a neighbour who was suffering from acute poverty. The rich man was proud of his wealth and treated his poor neighbour with disrespect and derision. One day, a fortune-teller told the rich man that all his wealth would be possessed by his neighbour within a month. The rich man became greatly worried and spent sleepless nights. He did not know how to safeguard his wealth round the clock. Suddenly he thought of a plan. He disposed of everything he had and with all that money, he bought a large, precious diamond. He sewed up the diamond in his turban. He proudly said to himself, “Now, there’s no way. My poor neighbour can never secure my wealth. The words of the fortune-teller will prove false.” _______

Answer:

Answer:

Title: The Rich Man’s Turban and the Fortune-Teller

A few days later, the rich man had to go to a distant town on some urgent business. Just then, his poor neighbour’s wife came to his house to borrow the turban, as she wanted to attend a marriage function in the town. The rich man’s wife was not aware of the value of the turban, so she gladly gave it to her.

The poor neighbour wore the turban proudly and attended the wedding with great joy. While returning home, he felt something hard pressing against his head. It hurt him like a stone. On reaching home, he took a needle and carefully untied the stitches of the turban. To his great amazement, he found the precious diamond hidden inside.

He understood everything at once. He threw the turban back into the rich man’s compound, vacated his house at night, and ran away with his family and the diamond.

When the rich man returned from his journey, he saw the turban lying in his compound. He shouted at his wife for not keeping it in its proper place. He hurriedly picked it up and felt the bottom of the turban. He was shocked to find the diamond missing. He realized that the words of the fortune-teller had come true after all.

Answer:

Title: The Missing Wallet

One of the friends sprang up saying, “Take it easy. Our government has made things simple for us. See, we are going digital, isn’t it? So now consider the problem we encountered to be solved.” Joseph, still worried, asked, “What do you mean?” “Simple, let me pay the bill through the Paytm app on my mobile. The money will be transferred instantly.” Everyone was overjoyed at the turn of the event. They walked out with their pride being saved. It is important to be safe and to have an alternative option in unwarranted situations.

UTHIRA Registration Form

UTHIRA is an event conducted by the NSS unit of ABC Hr Sec School. Imagine you are a volunteer and help a parent fill in the following registration form. (Invent necessary details)

In Celebration of Being Alive – About The Author

Christiaan Neethling Barnard was born in rural South Africa in 1922 to poor parents as their fourth child. After the loss of his brother to a heart ailment, he resolved to become a doctor. He performed the world’s first successful human heart transplantation in the year 1967. He instantly gained worldwide recognition. He has penned 14 books and 235 scientific articles. Some of his prominent books are ‘The Best Medicine’ and ‘The Faith’. He has been conferred with 11 honorary doctorates and 36 International Awards. In his late years, he established the Christiaan Barnard Foundation to serve and promote the cause of underprivileged children throughout the world and died at the age of 78.

In Celebration of Being Alive – Summary in English

Short Summary of “In Celebration of Being Alive” by Dr. Christiaan Barnard

Dr. Christiaan Barnard, the famous heart surgeon who performed the world’s first human heart transplant, reflects on the nature of human suffering in this inspiring essay.

As he nears the end of his career, Barnard’s thoughts turn to why people must suffer. He recalls his own painful experience—an accident in which he suffered eleven broken ribs and a perforated lung, while his wife had a badly fractured shoulder. During his hospitalization, he felt agony, fear and anger, and could not accept his father’s belief that suffering ennobles a person.

Everything changes one morning at Cape Town’s Red Cross Children’s Hospital. Barnard witnesses two severely disabled boys—one blind with a disfigured face, the other with an amputated arm and little hope of recovery—joyfully racing an unattended breakfast trolley through the ward. The other child patients cheer them on with laughter and shouts of encouragement.

This heart-warming sight teaches Barnard a profound lesson: the business of living is the celebration of being alive. It is not merely pleasure, amusement or recreation. Suffering does not make us noble; it is what we do with our lives after suffering that matters. As he puts it, we cannot appreciate light without knowing darkness, and what matters is not what we have lost, but what we have left.

“In Celebration of Being Alive” – சுருக்கம் (Tamil Summary)

“வாழ்வதைக் கொண்டாடுதல்” – டாக்டர் கிறிஸ்டியன் பார்னாட்

உலகின் முதல் மனித இதய மாற்று அறுவை சிகிச்சையை மேற்கொண்ட புகழ்பெற்ற இதய அறுவை சிகிச்சை நிபுணர் டாக்டர் கிறிஸ்டியன் பார்னாட், மனிதன் ஏன் துன்பப்பட வேண்டும் என்ற கேள்வியை இந்தக் கட்டுரையில் ஆராய்கிறார்.

தம் வாழ்க்கையின் இறுதிக் கட்டத்தை நearingபோது, மக்கள் ஏன் துன்பப்பட வேண்டும் என்ற சிந்தனை அவரை வாட்டியது. ஒரு முறை அவரும் அவரது மனைவியும் ஒரு உணவகத்தில் சாப்பிட்டுவிட்டு தெருவைக் கடக்கும்போது விபத்துக்குள்ளானார்கள். அதில் அவருக்கு பதினொரு விலா எலும்புகள் முறிந்தன; நுரையீரல் துளைபட்டுப் போனது. அவரது மனைவிக்கு தோள்பட்டை எலும்பு முறிந்தது. மருத்துவமனையில் அவர் வேதனை, பயம் மற்றும் கோபத்தை அனுபவித்தார். “துன்பம் மனிதனை உயர்த்துகிறது” என்ற தமது தந்தையின் கருத்தை அவரால் ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியவில்லை.

பின்னர், கேப் டவுனில் உள்ள செஞ்சிலுவை குழந்தைகள் மருத்துவமனையில் ஒரு காலை நேரத்தில், பார்னாட் ஒரு நெஞ்சைத் தொடும் நிகழ்வைக் கண்டார். ஒரு செவிலியர் காலை உணவு வண்டியை கவனிக்காமல் விட்டுச் சென்றிருந்தார். அதை இரண்டு தைரியமான சிறுவர்கள் கைப்பற்றினர். ஒருவன் ஓட்டுநராகவும், மற்றவன் இயந்திர நிபுணராகவும் வேடம் ஏற்றனர். இயந்திர நிபுணர் முழுவதும் குருடர்; ஓட்டுநரோ ஒரு கையை இழந்தவர். இதர நோயாளிக் குழந்தைகள் சிரிப்புடனும் உற்சாகக் கூக்குரலுடனும் அவர்களை ஊக்குவித்தனர்.

இந்த இரண்டு சிறுவர்களும் — ஒருவன் கண்களை இழந்து, முகம் சிதைந்தவன்; மற்றவன் கையை இழந்து, உயிர்பிழைக்கும் நம்பிக்கையே இல்லாதவன் — வலியையும் அறுவை சிகிச்சையையும் மறந்து வாழ்வின் மகிழ்ச்சியைக் கொண்டாடிக்கொண்டிருந்தனர். இது பார்னாட்டுக்கு ஒரு ஆழமான பாடத்தைக் கற்றுக் கொடுத்தது: வாழ்வதே, உயிருடன் இருப்பதைக் கொண்டாடுவதே வாழ்க்கையின் பணி. அது வெறும் பொழுதுபோக்கோ, வேடிக்கையோ அல்ல.

துன்பம் ஒருவரை உயர்த்துவதில்லை; துன்பத்தை அனுபவித்த பின்னர் வாழ்வை நாம் சரியாகப் புரிந்துகொள்கிறோம். இருளை அறியாமல் ஒளியையும், குளிரை அனுபவிக்காமல் வெப்பத்தையும் நாம் மதிக்க முடியாது. நாம் இழந்ததைப் பற்றி கவலைப்படாமல், நம்மிடம் எஞ்சியிருப்பதைக் கொண்டு வாழ்வதே உண்மையான வாழ்க்கை என்பதை அந்தச் சிறுவர்கள் பார்னாட்டுக்குக் கற்பித்தனர்.

Glossary Table

In Celebration of Being Alive – Synonyms

Find out the synonym of the underlined word in each of the following sentences.

Question 1. My thoughts have turned to the consideration of why people suffer.

(a) imagination

(b) curiosity

(c) absurdity

(d) careful thought

Answer: (d) careful thought

Question 2. Suffering seems cruelly prevalent in the world today.

(a) unique

(b) uncommon

(c) common

(d) fair

Answer: (c) common

Question 3. Of the rest, many will end up as mental or physical cripples.

(a) people with sound bodies

(b) people with rare gifts

(c) people with disabilities

(d) people with perfect health

Answer: (c) people with disabilities

Question 4. My gloomy thoughts stem from an accident.

(a) ecstatic

(b) blissful

(c) depressed

(d) lofty

Answer: (c) depressed

Question 5. I experienced agony.

(a) relaxation

(b) liberation

(c) amusement

(d) extreme suffering

Answer: (d) extreme suffering

Question 6. Dr. Barnard had a perforated lung.

(a) damaged with holes

(b) inflated

(c) shrunk

(d) inebriated

Answer: (a) damaged with holes

Question 7. The wound healed around his neck.

(a) cursed

(b) cured

(c) curtailed

(d) contorted

Answer: (b) cured

Question 8. He had a malignant tumour of the bone.

(a) harmless

(b) friendly

(c) harmful

(d) helpful

Answer: (c) harmful

Question 9. His shoulder and arm were amputated.

(a) attached

(b) surgically cut off

(c) frustrated

(d) transplant

Answer: (b) surgically cut off

Question 10. There was little hope for his recovery.

(a) recuperation

(b) discovery

(c) loss

(d) damage

Answer: (a) recuperation

Question 11. He had full confidence in the mechanic.

(a) trust

(b) disbelief

(c) doubt

(d) skepticism

Answer: (a) trust

Question 12. Two children had given me a profound lesson.

(a) humble

(b) modest

(c) shallow

(d) very great

Answer: (d) very great

Question 13. The business of living is joy.

(a) amnesia

(b) dyslexia

(c) dementia

(d) delight

Answer: (d) delight

Question 14. Life is not something for recreation.

(a) earnestness

(b) meditation

(c) entertainment

(d) distress

Answer: (c) entertainment

Question 15. Nor can we appreciate warmth if we have not.

(a) heat

(b) wellness

(c) chillness

(d) wetness

Answer: (a) heat

Question 16. Suffering ennobles you.

(a) destroys

(b) dignifies

(c) distress

(d) encourages

Answer: (b) dignifies

Question 17. I see nothing noble in thrashing around in a sweat-soaked bed.

(a) heated

(b) warmed

(c) drenched

(d) smelled

Answer: (c) drenched

Question 18. There was a grand finale of scattered plates.

(a) anti-climax

(b) climax

(c) boring end

(d) gloomy denouement

Answer: (b) climax

Question 19. They didn’t have sophisticated surgery.

(a) crude

(b) undeveloped

(c) cumbersome

(d) well-advanced

Answer: (d) well-advanced

Question 20. Something basic that was full of solace for me.

(a) pity

(b) neglect

(c) abandon

(d) consolation

Answer: (d) consolation

In Celebration of Being Alive – Antonyms

Find out the antonym of the underlined word in each of the following sentences.

Question 1. Why people should suffer.

(a) undergo pain

(b) struggle

(c) enjoy

(d) heal

Answer: (c) enjoy

Question 2. Suffering is cruelly prevalent.

(a) sarcastically

(b) tortuously

(c) mercilessly

(d) mercifully

Answer: (d) mercifully

Question 3. My gloomy thoughts stem from an accident.

(a) sad

(b) murky

(c) happy

(d) vague

Answer: (c) happy

Question 4. I experienced agony.

(a) calamity

(b) delight

(c) horror

(d) misery

Answer: (b) delight

Question 5. Suffering ennobles you.

(a) exalts

(b) dignifies

(c) praises

(d) humility

Answer: (d) humility

Question 6. This trolley was commandeered by an intrepid crew of two.

(a) timid

(b) bold

(c) daring

(d) adventurous

Answer: (a) timid

Question 7. They did not have sophisticated heart surgery.

(a) advanced

(b) well-developed

(c) backward

(d) cultured

Answer: (c) backward

Question 8. He was a walking horror.

(a) disgust

(b) delight

(c) shock

(d) fear

Answer: (b) delight

Question 9. They go through mutilating surgery.

(a) crippling

(b) paralyzing

(c) maiming

(d) heating

Answer: (d) heating

Question 10. There was a grand finale.

(a) end

(b) climax

(c) exciting finish

(d) beginning

Answer: (d) beginning

Question 11. It was a solace for me.

(a) anguish

(b) cheer

(c) consolation

(d) reassurance

Answer: (a) anguish

Question 12. The trolley was commandeered by the two boys.

(a) hijacked

(b) snatched

(c) usurped

(d) abandoned

Answer: (d) abandoned

Question 13. The wound healed around his neck.

(a) cured

(b) worsened

(c) got healthy again

(d) returned to normalcy

Answer: (b) worsened

Question 14. He had full confidence.

(a) trust

(b) belief

(c) disabilities

(d) distrust

Answer: (d) distrust

Question 15. Two children had given me a profound lesson.

(a) deep

(b) great

(c) intense

(d) superficial/hollow

Answer: (d) superficial/hollow

Question 16. The business of living is the celebration of being alive.

(a) commemoration

(b) praise

(c) honour

(d) criticism

Answer: (d) criticism

Question 17. The business of living is not just for joy.

(a) bliss

(b) sorrow

(c) indulgence

(d) elation

Answer: (b) sorrow

Question 18. We can’t appreciate light if we haven’t known darkness.

(a) criticise

(b) acknowledge

(c) welcome

(d) be obliged

Answer: (a) criticise

Question 19. Living is not for just recreation.

(a) dalliance

(b) amusement

(c) drudgery

(d) pastime

Answer: (c) drudgery

Question 20. He was laughing.

(a) crying

(b) chuckling

(c) whooping

(d) simpering

Answer: (a) crying