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My English Reader Class 8 DAV Solutions Unit 2 Compassionate Souls
DAV Class 8 English Reader Book Solutions Unit 2 Compassionate Souls
I. Read the following news headlines.
17-year old Babloo teaches other poor kids like himself.
90,000 Indians volunteered for the Teach India’ programme launched by ‘The Times of India’.
Get into groups of four. Discuss how valuable the work of Babloo and the Teach India’ volunteers is for the society.
Answer:
Babloo, a seventeen year old boy teaches other poor kids and deprived children like himself. Poor children are usually unable to go to schools. Their poverty forces them to do work at dhabas, restaurants, garages etc. to support their families. Babloo is providing education to them that will make their future secured.
Similarly 90,000 Indians volunteered for the ‘Teach India’ programme. It was launched by ‘The Times of India’. This will help the entire nation to get education in a proper manner. They can reach at the places where there are no schools.
II. Look for a few more stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary work for the society. Discuss in the class.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
A. 1. Given below is a list of the people who cast aside their personal interests for the larger interest of the society. Write the area in which they worked or are working.
Baba Amte : _____________________
Medha Patkar : _____________________
Anna Hazare : _____________________
Dr. Binayak Sen : _____________________
Mother Teresa : _____________________
Answer:
Baba Amte : Devoted his life in the service of leprosy patients.
Medha Patkar : Involved in Narrnda Bachao Movement.
Anna Hazare : A great social activist involved in anti-corruption movement
Dr. Binayak Sen : He contributed immensely for the health care to the poores and deprived people.
Mother Teresa : Roman catholic nun who devoted her lfe to help the poor.
A.2. Now read about Mahatma Hansraj, the architect of the D.A.V. movement who was the epitome of simplicity and compassionate
Mahatma Hansraj: Simple Living And High Thinking Summary
Mahatma Hansraj started D.A.V. movement. He was just like Mahatma Gandhi who worked in socio-cultural field. He was very simple. Mahatma Hansraj was born in Khatri family. He led a poor life. He completed his education. Inspired by Swami Dayanand and his beliefs Mahatma Hansraj gave his services to Anglo- Vedic Education. He always wanted to help the needy people.
Mahatma Hansraj used to give help even if it was not asked. He once helped a young man who was unable to tally the accounts at the post office. There was short of cash. On this ground he could even lose his job. Mahatma Hansraj took him to his home. He handed him over his wife’s accounts book and asked him to take out as much cash from the account as he needed. The young man was very thankful because Mahatma Hansraj saved his job. He did charity with his limited means. He was really very great.
महात्मा हंसराज ने डी० ए० वी० आन्दोलन की शुरुआत की। वे महात्मा गाँधी के समान थे जिन्होंने सामाजिक-सांस्कृतिक क्षेत्र में कार्य किया। वे अत्यंत साधारण व्यक्ति थे । महात्मा हंसराज का जन्म खत्री परिवार में हुआ था। उन्होंने अपना जीवन अत्यंत गरीबी में बिताया। उन्होंने अपनी शिक्षा पूरी की। उन पर स्वामी दयानंद तथा उनके विचारों का प्रभाव था । महात्मा हंसराज ने एंग्लो- वैदिक शिक्षा को अपनी सेवाएँ प्रदान की। वे हमेशा जरूरतमंद लोगों की मदद किया करते थे। उन्होंने एक बार डाकघर के एक युवक की सहायता की जो अपने लेखा ( एकाउंट) को नहीं मिला पा रहा था। रोकड़े की कमी थी। उसकी नौकरी भी जा सकती थी । महात्मा हंसराज उसे अपने घर ले गए। उन्होंने उसे अपनी पत्नी की लेखा पुस्तिका दी तथा उसे रोकड़े निकालने को कहा ताकि वह इस कमी को पूरा कर सके। युवक बहुत कृतज्ञ हुआ क्योंकि महात्मा हंसराज ने उसकी नौकरी बचा ली। महात्मा हंसराज ने अपने सीमित स्त्रोतों से लोगों की सहायता की। वे बहुत महान थे ।
Word-Meanings:
Contemporaries = people living in the same period – समसामयिक;
Remunerative = a lot of money – अत्यधिक पैसे देना;
Honorary = services for which no payment is made – जिस मदद के बदले में कोई पैसे न लिए जाते हों;
Indifferent = not caring about – लापरवाह;
Philanthropist = one who helps people especially by giving them money – लोकहितकारी ।
A. 3. On the basis of your understanding of the text, complete the following statements.
Answer:
(a) After graduation, Mahatma Hansraj’s family wanted him to __________
Answer:
After graduation, Mahatma Hansraj’s family wanted him to take up a remunerative government job and end the financial crisis of the family.
(b) Lala Mulkraj offered to share his salary of __________
Answer:
Lala Mulkraj offered to share his salary with Mahatma Hansraj of to promote the Anglo Vedic Education with Mahatma Hansraj
(c) Mahatma Hansraj’s wife decided to support him when __________
Answer:
Mahatma Hansraj’s wife decided to support him when she came to know about his ideas.
(d) Mahatma Hansraj couldn’t go to Jullundur because __________
Answer:
Mahatma Hansraj couldn’t go to Jullundur because he could not spare the railway fare to Jullundur to and fro.
(e) At times, Mahatma Hansraj wished to have more money so that __________
Answer:
At times, Mahatma Hansraj wished to have more money so that he could help more helpless people.
(f) Mahatma Hansraj helped the young man by __________
Answer:
Mahatma Hansraj helped the young man by asking him to withdraw cash from his wife’s account to meet the shortage.
A.4. HOTS
Unlike Mahatma Hansraj and other noble souls, a considerably large percentage of youth lacks core virtues like sincerity, compassion, courtsey, forgiveness. What factors are responsible for this degeneration of values amongst the youth?
Discuss in your group and write any four factors below.
Answer:
Behaving in a responsible way is expected from children but nowadays it has been noticed that children behave in irresponsible way and there is greater shift towards anti-social behaviour. Decrease in moral values especially amongst children greatly hampers the social fabrication of the society as well. Influence of companion/peer group is one of the main reasons for children develop this kind of attitude. As it oblique seen most of the children spend most of time with them.
Double standards of morality for boys and girls is another factor that causes degeneration of morals among youth. Laughing in public places is considered disgraceful for girls but not so for boys. Nuclear family and materialistic way of life in small families where father and mother both are working, have no time to share with their child that leads to psychological conflict in a child which can lead to aggressive behaviour. Self-exhibition i.e. extremely pompous behaviour, to prove yourself as somebody extraordinary, can lead to the bad habits drinking, smoking and gambling, virtues like sincerity, compassion, courtesy and forgiveness are surely missing in them.
A.5. Values
‘He was mahatma in the real sense of the word.’
What attributes make a person a ‘mahatma’?
Answer:
A.6. Find words from the text which mean the same as the following.
(a) similar : ______
Answer:
identical
(b) intentionally : ______
Answer:
willingly
(c) pitiful : ______
Answer:
pathetic
(d) error : ______
Answer:
discrepancy
A.7. ‘Milk of human kindness’ — it is an idiomatic expression which means ‘full of kindness for others’. You will be surprised to know that there are many more such expressions using food items to enrich our language. Look at the following expressions and write their meanings with the help of the clues given in the box.
a) crying over spilt milk __________
Answer:
worrying about something you can not change
b) eat humble pie __________
Answer:
to feel sorry
c) full of beans __________
Answer:
to be strong and energetic
d) go bananas __________
Answer:
to become crazy
e) in a pickle __________
Answer:
in stress
f) piece of cake __________
Answer:
an extremely easy thing to do
A.8. Now use the above expressions to complete the following sentences meaningfully.
(a) Mrs Seth is a very helpful teacher. Students often approach her when they are ______.
Answer:
in a pickle
(b) To get a job is a ______ for the extremely brilliant Shekhar.
Answer:
piece of cake
(c) Even after walking for two hours, my father seemed to be ______.
Answer:
full of beans
(d) I ______ when I receive wrong-number phone calls in the middle of the night.
Answer:
go bananas
(e) Raj had always been overconfident but when he lost the match, he had to ______.
Answer:
eat humble pie
(f) Now that Tina has missed the flight, there is no point in ______.
Answer:
crying over spilt milk
A. 9. Compassion was long considered a virtue but it seems like an anachronism today. The present generation upholds only the value of self-gratification.
Bearing in mind the above statement, write an article for the school magazine on the topic — “The Self-Centred Generation.’
Answer:
The Self-Centred Generation
Gone are the days when the younger generation had regard for values, when they were sensitive towards everyone — their parents, elders, teachers etc. Today’s generation is self-centred. They only live for themselves. They do not have feelings towards the poor and the deprived people. The values are degenerating. There are several reasons behind this change. The main reasons are money, luxuries and competitiveness. Man has become like a machine without emotions. They want money and luxuries in lives. Their only motive is to defeat others by their achievements. Even the parents and teachers’ impart them education but forget to make them aware about values and sensitivity towards others. It is the demand of time to inculcate values and moral in children.
A. 10. Further Reading
Reading about the life and work of any one of the following.
- Mother Teresa
- Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
- Baba Amte
- Dr. Deviprasad Shetty
Answer:
Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was a Catholic nun and missionary. She was bom on August 26, 1910. On August 27, 1910 she was baptized as Agnes Gonnha Bojaxhiu. At the age of 12, she first felt a calling to a religious life. Six years later, in 1928, she became a nun and set off for Ireland to join the Loreto sisters of Dublin. She came to Darjeeling in May 1931 and was sent to Calcutta where she was assigned to teach at St. Mary’s school. She worked for the blind, aged, disabled and also for the people suffering from leprosy. She received the Nobie Prize for her humanitarian work.
B
B. 1. What would be your state of mind if you found yourself in the following situations?
(a) Your car has a flat tyre on a busy road. You are blocking the free movement of the traffic. Everyone stops and glares at you but no one comes to your help.
(b) You see an old handicapped beggar pleading for food but everyone ignores him and moves on. Even you, for some reason, are unable to help him.
(c) In a newspaper, you see the pictures of the blood-stained bodies of the victims of a bomb-blast in your city. You cast aside the newspaper and continue doing your work.
Which human qualities, do you think, are absent in the above situations? Hold a brief class discussion on why there has been a decline of these qualities.
Answer:
(a) I shall feel helpless as well as very nervous.
(b) I shall feel pity on him.
(c) Humanity, sensitivity, kindness towards others, emotional feelings etc. are absent in the above mentioned situation.
B.2.
The Divine Image Summary
According to the poet, the divine qualities of a mankind are mercy, pity, peace and love. When an individual is in distress or problem, he prays for these qualities. After the end of distress, he feels thankful. The poet feels that mercy, pity, peace and love are the qualities which make a life meaningful. Mercy has a human heart whereas pity has human face, love possesses human form and peace as a human dress. The poet believes that we must love mankind irrespective of their caste, colour, race or religion. God dwells where the qualities of mercy, love and pity dwell.
कवि के अनुसार, मनुष्य के अपूर्व गुण, दयालुता, करूणा, तथा प्रेम हैं। जब मनुष्य संकट या मुसीबत में होता है तो वह इन गुणों के लिए प्रार्थना करता है। निराशा समाप्त होने के बाद वह ईश्वर का धन्यवाद करता है । कवि विश्वास करता है कि दयालुता, करूणा, शान्ति तथा प्रेम मनुष्य के गुण हैं। दया में मनुष्य हृदय है जबकि करूणा का चेहरा मनुष्य है, प्रेम मनुष्य का स्वरूप है तथा शान्ति मनुष्य का परिधान है । कवि विश्वास करता है कि हमें मानव जाति से प्रेम करना चाहिए जिसमें जाति, रंग, प्रजाति अथवा धर्म का ध्यान नहीं रखना चाहिए। ईश्वर वहीं निवास करते हैं जहाँ दया, प्रेम तथा करूणा निवास करता है।
Word – Meanings:
Mercy = kindness – दया, रहम;
Pity = feeling of sadness that you have for somebody that is suffering or in trouble – दया, करूणा;
Distress = great pain or difficulty – पीड़ा;
Dwell = to live – निवास करना ।
B.3. On the basis of your understanding of the poem, complete the given summary by filling the blanks with one word only.
The poet believes that Mercy, ______ and ________ are divine qualities. In fact according to the poet, they are God Himself. So everybody prays to these qualities in distress and feels ______________ when the moment of distress has passed. Since God created man in His own image , _________ , _____________ and ____________ are human qualities as well.
The poet elaborates this point by saying that Mercy has a human _________ Pity a human ______ , Love is the human form __________ and Peace the human _________ . The poet wants us to __________ the human form irrespective of caste, colour, race or religion. A heathen, a turk or a _________ must be treated with the same deep emotions and care, The poet firmiy believes that wherever these qualities exist, God is sure to ___________ there.
Answer:
The poet believes that Mercy, pity. peace and love are divine qualities. In fact, according to the poet, they are God Himself. So everybody in distress prays to these qualities and feels thankful when the moment of distress has passed. Since God created man in His own image mercy, pity, peace and love are human qualities as well.
The poet elaborates this point by saying that Mercy has a human heart. Pity a human face, love is the human form divine and Peace the human dress. The poet wants us to love the human form irrespective of caste, colour, race or religion. A heathen, a turk or a Jew must be treated with the same deep feelings and care. The poet firmly believes that wherever these qualities exist, God is sure to dwell there.
B.4. Read the following extracts from the poem and answer the questions that follow.
(a) To Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love
All pray in their distress.
(i) Name the poet.
Answer:
William Blake
(ii) Why do all the people pray to Mercy, Pity, Peace and Love in their distress?
Answer:
Because we want to come out of the distress.
(iii) What is the difference between Mercy and Pity?
Answer:
Mercy has a human heart whereas Pity has a human face.
(b) And all must love the human form
In heathen, turk or jew
(i) From which poem have these lines been taken?
Answer:
These lines have been taken from the poem The Divine Image by William Blake.
(ii) What does the word ‘heathen’ mean?
Answer:
‘Heathen’ means having no religion.
(iii) What argument does the poet give to persuade us to love all human beings?
Answer:
The poet believes where these divine qualities dwell, God dwells there too.
B.5. Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) Why does the poet begin the words, ‘Mercy’, ‘Pity’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Love’ with capital letters?
Answer:
The poet begins the words ‘Mercy’, Pity, ‘Peace and Love’ with capital letters to give stress to these qualities.
(b) Why are ‘Mercy’, ‘Pity’, ‘Peace’ and ‘Love’ called virtues of delight?
Answer:
Because they provide happiness to mankind.
(c) What does the expression ‘his child and care’ suggest?
Answer:
The expression means that mankind is the child of God who care for them.
B.6. Justify the appropriateness of the title ‘The Divine Image’.
Answer:
The title The Divine Image’ is appropriate in itself because in the poem, the poet is trying to stress on the fact that we pray to god whenever we are in distress and beg for mercy, pity, peace and love. Actually a human being can’t imagine himself to be able to exist on this earth, without the feeling of compassion and mercy for others. The poet firmly believes that wherever these qualities exist, God is sure to be dwelling there.
B.7. Divide the class into two groups, say A and B. Ask Group A to collect articles/ news items related to violence, jealousy and indifference towards one another. Group B will collect articles/news items about compassion, love and concern for mankind. Now compare and discuss which kind of incidents have become more prevalent in the present society. What could be the reasons for this scenario?
Answer:
For self-attempt.
B.8. ‘Mercy’, ‘pity’, ‘peace’ and ‘love’ have been perceived by the poet as divine qualities. For anyone of the qualities mentioned above, write in brief an incident from your life where you displayed that quality.
Answer:
There are many instances in our life which leave a deep impact on us. Life gives us only a handful of moments which we can prove our worth as a good and generous human being. One such incidence I would like to share with you also. This goes back to the time when I was in class-VI, and preparing for my annual exams, I happen to notice that our maid’s son was exactly my age; but seems to be not too happy with his surroundings. He used to visit our house.
Once I got a chance to speak to him, and I asked him promptly why he was looking so gloomy and sad. He started crying and told me that he was unable to appear for his exams as his fees had not been paid. I wanted to help him. So I opened my piggy bank and gave him ₹ 800 and asked my mother to arrange for the rest of the amount, so that his fees could be paid. The boy’s happiness knew no bounds, he was able to clear all his exams with flying colours and I was happy with the fact that I could help a person in need and make somebody smile.
B.9. Refer to a dictionary to find the meaning of the following idiomatic expressions and write them in the space provided.
(a) at the mercy of someone
Answer:
Under the control of someone
(b) to leave somebody to the mercy of someone
Answer:
Let some one be dealt with by another person who may treat them badly.
(c) to hold your peace
Answer:
Maintain your silence
(d) to make peace with someone
Answer:
To stop arguing with someone
B.10. ‘An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.’ Do you agree with this statement? Hold a debate in the class.
Answer:
‘An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind’ is a saying. If someone treats somebody in the same way people treat them, no positive result will come of it. If we think to hurt the person who have hurt us, it is not fair. At present, the world is getting like this only. We never miss a chance to damage those who knowingly or unknowingly became cause of our damage. If some one damages us, we also try to do the same. Due to this, the violence is increasing in the society. We should always try to spread love instead of hatred. We should lessen this and develop the sense of helpfulness, sensitivity etc. towards others. We should forget the feeling of revenge and avoid anger.
B.11. Further Reading
Get a copy of Songs of Innocence and of Experience by William Blake from your school library. Read in particular the poems included in the Songs of Innocence.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
C
C. 1. Have you heard of the term ‘NGO’?
(a) Tick (✓) the correct full form of NGO from the options given below.
(i) New Government Offices
(ii) Non-Governmental Organisations
(iii) New Governmental Offers
(b) Discuss in groups of four the objectives of NGOs and their areas of work.
Answer:
The objectives of NGOs are:
(i) To serve the needy people.
(ii) To make people aware about the social concern.
(iii) To spread literacy.
(iv) To make people aware about their rights.
The areas of work are – helping old-age persons, helping children, environmental issues etc.
(c) Look at the list of the NGOs given below and collect information about them.
- Prayas
- CRY
- HelpAge India
- Cancer Society of India
Answer:
- Prayas in an N.G.O. It’s goal is to protect the rights of marginalised children, women and young people. It is working in seven states in India serving an estimated 100,000 people.
- CRY is Child Rights and You. This N.G.O works for the children and their rights as education etc.
- HelpAge India is an N.G.O working for elderly health care also and provide them shelter.
- This is a community-based voluntary organization dedicating mainly to eliminate cancer as a major health problem through awarenes. It also provides financial and emotional support to the patients suffering from cancer.
C.2.
Return of the Native Summary
Dr. Parameswar Rao took his doctoral degree from the Pennsylvania State University, but refused to take the job of assistant professor. He returned to India. His father had always taken decisions regarding him from schooling to higher studies. But he decided to go to Dimli. His dream was to help the poor. He wanted to teach the children.
Rao reached to the village with his wife. He settled down in the ancestral house. Next day, he went out to move into the village. He saw children going to the school that was five kilometres away at Yellamanchali. He came to know from where he had to start. He decided to set up a school. Rao held a meeting in the evening to discuss about the required fund. He proposed to begin the school together. Firstly people hesitated, then his brother told that he had left a lucrative job in America. People believed him and collected ₹ 70,000 which was sufficient to start a school.
The next problem was of recognition. Rao met the State Chief Minister but nothing happened. Then he met the ADC to the Governor. He arranged meeting with governor and the school got recognition.
The school was opened. Rao gave education not only to the children but also to the adult people too. He also taught farmers the methods of cultivation. Due to this Dimli progressed. Today Rao is considered as God for the people of Dimli.
डॉ परमेश्वर राव ने पेन्सिलवेनिया स्टेट विश्वविद्यालय से डॉक्टरेट की मानक उपाधि प्राप्त की परन्तु सहायक प्रोफेसर की नौकरी करने से इंकार कर दिया। वे भारत वापस आ गये। स्कूल से लेकर उच्च शिक्षा तक सभी निर्णय उनके पिता के थे। परन्तु उन्होंने डिमली जाने का निश्चय किया। उनकी इच्छा गरीबों की मदद करनी थी। वे बच्चों को शिक्षा देना चाहते थे ।
राव अपनी पत्नी के साथ गाँव गये । वहाँ अपने पूर्वजों के घर में रहने लगे। अगले दिन वे गाँव घूमने निकले। उन्होंने कुछ बच्चों को स्कूल जाते देखा जो पाँच मील दूर येलामंचली में था। वे समझ गए कि आरम्भ कहाँ से करना है। स्कूल की स्थापना करने के लिए उन्होंने गाँव वालों की एक सभा बुलायी । उन्होंने एक स्कूल आरम्भ करने की बात कही। सभी ग्रामीण हिचकिचाये परन्तु उनके भाई ने बताया कि उन्होंने अमेरिका में अच्छी नौकरी का अवसर सिर्फ गाँव की भलाई के लिए छोड़ दिया है। लोगों ने उनका विश्वास किया, रुपये एकत्रित किए। स्कूल खोलने के लिए 70,000/- रुपये एकत्रित हुये जो काफी थे ।
अगली समस्या स्कूल की मान्यता को लेकर थी। वे मुख्यमंत्री से मिले परन्तु कुछ परिणाम नहीं निकला। फिर वे गवर्नर के ए०डी०सी० से मिले। उन्होंने गर्वनर से मुलाकात की और स्कूल को मान्यता मिल गई।
स्कूल खोला गया। राव ने न केवल बच्चों को शिक्षा दी वरन वयस्क शिक्षा भी आरम्भ की। उन्होंने कृषकों को बेहतर बनाने की भी शिक्षा दी। इस कारण डिमली ने उन्नति की। आज लोग राव को अपना भगवान मानते हैं।
Word – Meanings:
Vision = the ability to see – दृष्टि, नज़र,
Arrived = reached – पहुँचे;
Determination = to be determined – दृढ़-निश्चय;
Ancestral = relating to ancestors – पुश्तैनी ;
Alleviate = to make less severe – कष्ट या पीड़ा के प्रभाव को कम करना;
Persuaded = to make somebody do something by giving him / her good reasons – मनाना;
Establishing = building, starting – स्थापित करना;
Lucrative = profitable – लाभकारी;
Contribution = something that you give, especially money or help or do together with other people – धन या सहायता के रूप में अंशदान;
Stroll = short walk – कम दूरी की सैर करना;
Set out = start – शुरू करना;
Satchels = school bags – बस्ता |
C.3. On the basis of your understanding of the text, complete the following statements briefly.
(a) Dr. Parameswar Rao refused a job in the USA because __________
Answer:
Dr. Parameswar Rao refused a job in the USA because he wanted to come back to India and to teach children at Dimli.
(b) His dream was to __________
Answer:
His dream was to spread literacy at Dimli and help the farmers get better yield from the land.
(c) Rao’s brothers helped him __________
Answer:
Rao’s brothers helped him to settle down at the ancestral house in village.
(d) __________ became his first priority.
Answer:
To set up a school at Dimli became his first priority.
(e) Rao wanted everyone to contribute __________
Answer:
Rao wanted everyone to contribute the money to open a school.
(f) For the people of Dimli, Rao is __________
Answer:
For the people of Dimli, Rao is more than God.
C.4. Why did Rao ask for contributions from the villagers for the school? Discuss in groups of four.
Answer:
For self-attempt.
C.5. HOTS
Can one serve one’s community, nation or people while staying in a foreign land? If yes, how? Write down the various ways and means to serve the society.
Answer:
No matter where we stay, it’s our love for our country that can drive us to do things which are worth appreciating in their own way. One such thing can be that even while staying in foreign land we can form an organisation that works for the development of underprivileged children. We can generate financial and through our contacts can hire people who have the will to work for such people.
We can choose a particular place in India and start working by picking poor kids and providing them good education and all necessities (like food, clothing and shelter) of life. Slowly we can spread our good life. Slowly we can spread our good work in other places too and make it a pan-India movement. Our country is our prestige, we should do whatever is possible to take our country to greater heights.
C.6. Values
Dr. Rao chose social service over a remunerative job of an Assistant Professor at the university and subsequently returned to his native village.
In groups of four, identify the qualities of his character that influenced his decision and write them below.
Answer:
Dr. Rao chose social service over a remunerative job of an Assistant Professor because he was a true patriot, strong-willed person who loved his country immensely. He was quite sensitive to the problems afflicting his own native land, India. So, he wanted to reach out to his fellow countiymen and help them lead a better life. He set an example for others to follow. His strong determination eventually led to opening of school in Dimli. The people of Dimli were forever indebted to him. He was truly a good Samaritan.
C.7. Life Skills
Dr. Rao’s inspiring saga of service and sacrifice inspires one and all to the core.
Had you Joeen in his place, what would you have done?
Answer:
Dr. Rao wAs Ctruly an inspiring figure. His good work cannot be equated with anything. In his place I would have also done something in the same league because as a person I also love to help others. People who are naive and ignorant and cannot help themselves should be taught how to lead a good life. Dr. Rao worked towards the upliftment of his village people. I would also have gone beyond my reach to help people of my village.
C.8. Find words from the passage which mean the following.
(a) giving a lot of money
Answer:
lucrative
(b) belonging to one’s forefathers
Answer:
ancestral
(c) an important thing that must be attended to before other things
Answer:
priority
(d) doubting that something is useful
Answer:
skeptical
C.9. The given words are similar in meaning to the main word selected from the text. Underline the meaning which you feel is correct as per the text.
(a) persuaded – convinced, tempted, influenced, converted
Answer:
convinced
(b) contribution – grant, gift, sponsorship, offering
Answer:
offering
(c) sense – faculty, feel, point, awareness
Answer:
feel
(d) determination – dedication, will-power, commitment, firmness
Answer:
commitment
(e) yield – profit, agree, produce, submit
Answer:
produce
C.10. Work in groups of four and discuss the following points.
- Who are good Samaritans?
- What qualities make a person a good Samaritan?
- Do they still exist?
- Is this rapid change in our leading to an increase in self-seeking individuals?
Answer:
- A good Samaritan is basically a charitable or helpful person ; who involuntarily helps others.
- To be a good Samaritan one needs to be helpful, compassionate and sensitive towards other person’s problems.
- Yes, there are many examples before us where we can see that people have gone out of their way to help others.
- Yes, to an extent the rapid change in our society is leading to an increase in self – seeking individuals. Man has become extremely selfish to fulfil his own desires and aspirations. He can go to any extent. That has led to complete degeneration of our moral values.
Now organise a JAM (Just a Minute) session in the class. One student from each group will speak for a minute on the topic – ‘Decline of Good Samaritans’.
Answer:
For Self-attempt.
C.11. You have read about Dr. Parmeswara Rao, who opened a school in a village and thus helped the children. Now listen about Hemant Chhabra who helped village children by providing bicycles.
Listen to an audio CD titled Tisten & Comprehend’ (Class-VIII). After listening, answer the questions asked in the CD orally. Listen to the tape script once again and attempt the given questions. The tape script is given on page 47.
One word in each of the statements given below is wrong. After listening to the tape script, identify the wrong word, underline it and then write the correct word in the space provided.
(a) Hemant Chhabra has been helping the village children by providing them with education. ________
Answer:
education – cycles
(b) He is also known as the ‘Cycle Santa’. ________
Answer:
cycle – bicycle
(c) His wife and children helped him in starting this project. ________
Answer:
children – Simona Terron, a journalist friend
(d) He sent pamphlets to people asking them to donate their old bicycles. ________
Answer:
Pamphlets – e-mail
(e) He was discouraged by the initial response. ________
Answer:
discouraged – overwhelmed
(f) The rusted bicycles were given away to the village children. ________
Answer:
rusted – repaired and painted
(g) The children were given bicycles on the basis of their age, attendance record and distance from school. ________
Answer:
age – class
(h) His project has spread to other cities like Pune and Chennai. ________
Answer:
Chennai – Delhi
C.12. Imagine you are Karan. You feel committed towards the less fortunate ones in your society and plan to serve them.
Write a letter to your friend telling them about the new project – We Care’ you have undertaken and invite them to be a part of this noble initiative.
Answer:
D-79, Saket
New Delhi,
17 July, 20xx
Dear Shantanu
I hope you are doing well. I would like to share my feelings with you. I feel sorry when I see people in distress especially old age people who are neglected by their children.
I have planned to support such old age people. I will open a old-age home. I have decided to utilise a place of mine. I shall provide all facilities for them. For funds I shall collect donations from all the people I know. I shall collaborate with the NGOs and seek their guidance. I hope I will get success in my initiative.
Say my regards to uncle and aunt.
Yours lovingly
XYZ
D.
Four Shades of Human Beings Summary
According to Buddha, there are four types of human beings. First those who work for their own good but do not think for others. They strive to abolish greed and hatred in themselves but they do not want others to follow them. Second category of people work for others but not for their own good. They do not care for their own growth. Third category of people neither do work for themselves nor for others. Last category of people work for themselves and others also.
The first and the third types are worst conditions. Selfish people are like animals who live for their survival only. The second category is not ideal but good. Those who do not care for themselves; they do not wish to care for others. Fourth category is the best where people keep themselves good to serve others. Buddha feels Karuna (compassion) and Panna (wisdom) are the hallmarks of the personality. Such person can build himself a strong person. He can make a society based on love.
बुद्ध के अनुसार, मनुष्य चार प्रकार के होते हैं। पहले जो स्वयं अपने अच्छे के लिए कार्य करते हैं परन्तु दूसरों के लिए नहीं । वे स्वयं लालच तथा नफरत को मिटाने का प्रयत्न तो करते हैं। परन्तु यह नहीं चाहते कि दूसरे उसका अनुसरण करें।
दूसरी श्रेणी के लोग दूसरों के लिए तो कार्य करते हैं पर अपने लिए नहीं। तीसरी श्रेणी के लोग न तो स्वयं के लिए और न किसी दूसरे के लिए कार्य करते हैं। अंतिम श्रेणी के लोग अपने लिए भी काम करते है तथा दूसरों के लिए भी ।
पहली तथा तीसरी श्रेणियों की स्थिति सबसे बुरी है। स्वार्थी लोग जानवरों के समान होते हैं जो केवल स्वयं जीने के लिए ही जीवन व्यतीत करते हैं।
दूसरी श्रेणी उत्तम नहीं परन्तु अच्छी है। जो लोग अपना ध्यान नहीं करते वे दूसरों का ध्यान रखने की इच्छा नहीं कर सकते। बुद्ध यह मानते हैं कि बुद्धि और करूणा व्यक्तित्व के मुख्य पहलू हैं। वैसे व्यक्ति स्वयं को एक मजबूत व्यक्ति बना सकते हैं। वे प्रेम पर आधारित समाज का निर्माण कर सकते हैं।