Blog

Chapter 2.1 You Start Dying Slowly …

Textbook Questions and Answers

Warming up!

Chit-chat:

1. Assuming A, B, C, D, as speakers, ask the assigned questions in your group and discuss.

Question 1.
Assuming A, B, C, D, as speakers, ask the assigned questions in your group and discuss.

2. Things I can do in my life

Question 1.
Things I can do in my life

Answer:

3. Complete the following with and write a paragraph.

Question 1.
Complete the following with and write a paragraph.

Answer:

Space Travel-My Wish According to the novelist H. G. Wells, one of the things to come in future was space travel. It was a fantastic dream then. It has turned into reality now. The invention of rockets, satellites and spaceships (spacecraft) have opened the gates of space travels.

Since I read about the accomplishments of the astronauts of different countries, I had my secret wish of space travelling. I don’t know when and how it will realize but I do wish to travel to space. How shall I enjoy the travel to space!

First I wish to go into the orbit round the earth. Then I shall emerge from the capsule and, still tied to my space vehicle, I shall walk in space. I shall move about in space with the help of space-gun. Then I wish to land on different planets. My first visit will be the moon, of course.

Then waiting and taking rest on a space station built by scientists and engineers, I shall travel to nearby planets. I shall visit Mars, Venus, Jupiter, etc. For that I shall travel by shuttle rocket service between the earth and the space station and from the space station to any other planet of my wish. I shall enjoy different weather, land, food and aliens if at all they exist there. What a marvellous travel it will be!

English Workshop:

1. Read the different messages in the poem given below. Choose the one that suits this poem, best.

Question 1.
Read the different messages in the poem given below. Choose the one that suits this poem, best.
(a) Face life whatever it may give you.
(b) Fulfil all your dreams and unfulfilled desires.
(c) Be yourself and do what your heart tells you.
(d) Accept all possible changes or risks that you have taken.
(e) Keeping your self-esteem intact, just try to relax in life.
Answer:
(c) Be yourself and do what your heart tells you.

2. State the following:

Question a.
Theme/central idea of the poem.
Answer:
Refer to point no (5) of the appreciation of this poem.

Question b.
Line that provides evidence of the theme.
Answer:
If you do not change your life, you start I dying slowly.

Question c.
Three characteristics, from the poem, that makes one dull and uninteresting.
Answer:
The three characteristics from the poem that makes one dull and uninteresting are:

1. becoming a slave of your habits.
2. not going with fresh emotions.
3. not facing exciting, risky challenges.

3. Pick out four Adjectives from the poem and write them down with the nouns they describe.

Question 1.
Pick out four Adjectives from the poem and write them down with the nouns they describe.

1. ………………………
2. ……………………..
3. ……………………..
4. ……………………….

Answer:

1. same paths
2. different colours
3. turbulent emotions
4. sensible advice.

4. Compare the structure of the poem, ‘You start dying slowly to the poems in Unit One (1.1 and 1.3) To which poem does the structure match? ……………….
What differences do you notice in the other ones. Note them down.
1. ……………………..
2. …………………….
3. …………………….
4. …………………….

Question 1.
Compare the structure of the poem, ‘You start dying slowly to the poems in Unit One (1.1 and 1.3) To which poem does the structure match? ……………….
Answer:
1. The structure of the poem 1.3 ‘Basketful of Moonlight’ matches with this poem.
2. What differences do you notice in the other ones. Note them down.

5. What expression is repeated in the poem? How many times? Why, do you think, the poet emphasizes it? 

Question 1.
What expression is repeated in the poem? How many times? Why, do you think, the poet emphasizes it?
Answer:
The expression ‘If you do not-‘ is repeated in the poem. It has been repeated 12 times in the beginning of lines in the poem. The poet emphasizes it because he wants to urge strongly to read the poem and stress the things that we should not do. He reminds us every time what we should avoid to do for living good life.

6. Write the opposite of the following in the form of advice using different words and phrases: 

Question 1.
Write the opposite of the following in the form of advice using different words and phrases:
(a) You do not travel × you should travel, as much as you can.
(b) You do not appreciate yourself × …………………..
(c) You kill your self-esteem × you should keep up your self- esteem.
(d) You become a slave of habits ×………………….
(e) You refuse to speak to strangers ×……………………
(f) You do not change your life ×…………………….
(g) You refuse to take a risk × ………………….
Answer:
(a) You do not travel × you should travel, as much as you can.
(b) You do not appreciate yourself × You should appreciate yourself.
(c) You kill your self-esteem × You should keep up your self-esteem.
(d) You become a slave of habits × Don’t become a slave of habits.
(e) You refuse to speak to strangers × You should speak to strangers.
(f) You do not change your life × You should change your life.
(g) You refuse to take a risk × You should always be ready to take a risk.

7. Go through the following steps and discuss in pairs about the facts mentioned in it. Write a paragraph using the points. Give another interesting title.

Question 1.
Go through the following steps and discuss in pairs about the facts mentioned in it. Write a paragraph using the points. Give another interesting title.

Answer:
Mould your living for Brighter Life
Everyone in the world craves for happy life. Everyone has his own concept of happy life. What, in general, can we do for living better life? Living wise and virtuous life is living happy life. Here are some facts and ways of living better life.

You should give up all your bad habits. Bad habits can spoil your whole life and your happiness. Resolve to get rid of one bad habit at a time and finish them off determinently. Never allow negative thoughts to enter your mind. Be always positive. Positive attitude will lead you to happiness and negative thoughts affect your life as well as others around you. Be confident and trust yourself and love whatever you do for good life.

You must be a good learner. Learn from any small things beneath the sun. Enrich your mind and soul by becoming a lifelong learner. Every moment of learning will give you a new experience of life. That also keeps you updated and gives you knowledge of vivid visions of glory.

Sharing and caring are two very important aspects of happy life. Share your sorrows and happiness with others. Take care of those who are around you. You will get love and respect from them. It is our moral abligation and that gives us satisfaction. Be humble to everyone who meets you on the way of your life. Respect and welcome everyone with smile. That gives you joy of your life. If you follow all these rules and values, you will surely live better life.

8. Complete the following table with the things in your life which help you to change your habits and routine.

Question 1.
Complete the following table with the things in your life which help you to change your habits and routine.

Answer:

9. Everyone needs inspiration to move ahead or make progress in our life. There are some things which inspire us to live better. What are those things?

Question 1.
Everyone needs inspiration to move ahead or make progress in our life. There are some things which inspire us to live better. What are those things?
(a) Stories
(b) ………….
(c) ………….
(d) ………….
(e) ………….
(f) …………..
Answer:
(a) stories
(b) parent’s support
(c) dreams
(d) role model
(e) faith in your own diligence
(f) motivation.

10. Complete the web diagrams with words that go with their topics.

Question 1.
Complete the web diagrams with words that go with their topics.

Answer:

11. Write about a day when you felt very happy. Use the following questions to help you. Think/Recollect a day.
Note down the points.

1. Do you remember the exact day and date?
2. Was it a special occasion or celebration?
3. What happened on that day?
4. How did you react to the things that happened on that day?
5. How did other people react when they saw you were so happy?
6. What did you do next?
7. What happened in the end?
8. Describe any other emotions you felt that day.

Now, with the help of the guidelines write a short paragraph of at least loo words about that happy day. Give a suitable title for your narrative/write-up.

Question 1.
Write about a day when you felt very happy. Use the following questions to help you. Think/Recollect a day.
Answer:

My Happiest Day
It was Wednesday, the 20th March, 2019. It was my birthday and also was the ‘Sparrows Day’. I had recently read an article about the ‘disappearing sparrows in Mumbai’. I felt very sorry about their miserable condition. From that day I was thinking of doing something for the poor sparrows. Then I decided to celebrate my birthday differently.

I had collected the material I required for making the sparrows happy. I started to set up an open bird- cote near the window of my house. I made a box of light wooden planks. Then I nailed two steel bowls of water on both sides of the cote. I put some grains and seeds on the cote. I filled the bowls with water. I also put some sparrow food inside the box. The box was big enough for the sparrows to move in and out.

Then I waited for the sparrows to come. In the beginning they did come near the cote but did not enter in the cote. They were afraid. But soon, after some hesitation, they began to alight on the cote one after another. They ate grains and drank water.

They chirped and twittered. The whole atmosphere was filled with joy at the sight of the twittering tiny sparrows. My parents and neighbours were very happy and thanked me for the gift I gave them on my birthday. The sparrows were assured that they were safe and no harm was done to them.

It was the biggest and the happiest day of my life. Everyone spoke high of me and praised me for my kind act. My joy knew no bounds. I was feeling proud that I could do something nice for the sparrows in my own small way.

12. Use Internet or any hook to write four inspirational or motivational quotes, related to the message/s in the poem.

Question 1.
Use Internet or any hook to write four inspirational or motivational quotes, related to the message/s in the poem.
Answer:
1. The path from dreams to success does exist, may you have the vision to find it, the courage to get on to it and perseverance to follow it.
2. Variety is the spice of life.
(Students should try to find more such quotes from internet/books.)

Read the extract and do the activities:

Simple Factual Activity:

Question 1.
Say whether the following pieces of advice by the poet are Right or Wrong:
Answer:

1. Appreciate your own good qualities. – Right
2. You should kill your self-esteem. – Wrong
3. Be a slave of your bad habits. – Wrong
4. Don’t bother to change the routine. – Right
5. Avoid strong feelings and their unsteady emotions. – Wrong
6. When you are not satisfied even then don’t change your life. – Wrong
7. Go after your dream. – Right
8. Show the courage to risk something. – Right

Complex Factual Activities:

Question 1.
Complete the Web:
(Answer is directly given.)
Answer:

Question 2.
What things can lead to slow death?
Answer:
Following things can lead one to a slow death. If one ignores travelling, reading, listening to the sounds of life, knowing one’s own qualities, keeping your self-respect, telling others to help you, then one can lead to slow death. Also, if one becomes a slave of one’s habits, does the same things every day without changing the routine, wears the same colours, avoids speaking to strangers, one can lose his/her happy future.

Question 3.
What is it that makes life worth living? Give four points:
Answer:

1. Be passionate.
2. If we are not satisfied with our job or love, change our ways of Life.
3. Be ready to take any risk courageously.
4. Go after our dreams with perseverance.

Question 4.
Complete the following lines with the help of the extract:
(Answers are directly given and underlined.)
Answer:
1. Passions and their emotions shine your eyes and beat your heart fast.
2. If you are not satisfied with your job or love, change your life.

Activity-based on Poetic Devices:

Question 1.
Give your own rhyming words for
1. read and
2. change.
Answer:
1. read – feed
2. change – range

Question 2.
Find out a pair of rhyming words from the extract.
Answer:
Passion – emotion.

Question 3.
Give your own rhyming words for:
1. job
2. fast
Answer:
1. job – rob
2. fast – last.

Appreciation of the Poem

1. Title: The title of the poem is-“You start dying slowly…”
2. Name of the poet: This poem was written by the poet Pablo Neruda.
3. Rhyme scheme: There is no rhyme scheme in the poem. It is written in ‘free verse’ style.
4. Figure of speech (Any one): Apostrophe, Repetition, Antithesis.
5. Theme/Central Idea: (in 2 or 3 lines) The theme of the poem in short is like this: Life must flow and renew itself at every moment of its being. We live fully only when we enrich ourselves with new knowledge, wide experience, fresh emotions, daring encounters and exciting challenges. If we settle for a life that is stagnant, repetitive or conventional, we start dying slowly instead of living the life fully.

English Workshop
(Based on Whole Poem)

Question 1.
The poet has left the last stanza incomplete. What line will you add to complete it?
Answer:
Added line will be – you will lose your hope of happy future.