1 Travel
and Holidays
Poon
Hill Yoga Trek in Nepal
The
Poon Hill Yoga Trek provides a wonderful opportunity to witness the beauty of
the Annapurna Range and the hidden treasures of Nepali culture. This programme
will help you integrate the principles of Yoga into your daily life with magnificent
views of snow-capped Himalayas and glaciers.
The main benefit of joining this programme is that it supports and encourages a
deep personal transformation process. This adventure journey passes through
many tourist hotspots and icy waterfalls which are very pleasant sights. Introducing
Hatha Yoga and meditation alongside a trekking experience allows ample benefits
for physical and mental health. The combination of Yoga and the Poon Hill Trek
creates a more fulfilling physical exercise while strengthening and opening the
mind for greater relaxation and awareness, all within the attractive natural
environment.
This
programme is open for all experience levels and is a unique chance for those
interested in the strengthening of the body, mind and soul. This may be the
short Yoga holiday you have always wished for providing an opportunity for you
to explore Nepali lifestyle and the secrets to happiness of the Nepali people.
Main
Highlights
Visitors
will be astonished by adorable landscapes and the enchanting
environment. Gazing at stunning views
of the Himalayas and savouring delicious Nepali meals is really incredible. They will be
attracted by different Nepali cultures, the diverse flora
and fauna, numerous perennial rivers and suspension bridges, and spectacular sunrise
and sunset views over high Himalayas will certainly encourage everyone to
self-transform with Yoga and meditation.
Itinerary
Day
01: Arrival in Kathmandu
We
will welcome you at the airport and provide a transfer to the centre. We will
also discuss the programme. Finally, we will be staying overnight at the
centre.
Day
02: Transfer to Pokhara
The
first activity is to drive to Pokhara in the morning. A standard micro bus or a
tourist bus will take about 4-5 hours. This bus ride passes along through the
hilly winding road alongside the Trishuli River having great views of the
river, forests and terraced fields. We will stay overnight in Pokhara.
Day
03: Pokhara – Tikhedhunga
We
wake up early in the morning and have tea before Yoga. We practice Yoga for an
hour. Then, it is time for breakfast. After breakfast, we drive to Nayapul. We
start our trek towards Tikhedhunga. On the trek, we pass through several towns.
We will reach Tikhedhunga and we will be staying there overnight.
Day
04: Tikhedhunga – Banthanti
After
tea, Yoga and breakfast in the morning; we start our trek towards Banthanti. On
the way, we cross a stream over a suspension bridge. We will be trekking to a
Magar village which is called Ulleri. Above the village where the trail climbs
gently through the cultivated fields, rhododendron and oak forests, we will
stop at Nangethanti for lunch and a short rest. After lunch we will start
walking towards Banthanti through the beautiful forest. Finally, we do evening
Yoga, have some relaxation and sleep in Banthanti.
Day
05: Banthanti – Ghorepani
As
soon as we wake up in the morning, we will have tea and then join the Yoga
class. After breakfast, we will start our hike towards Ghorepani, exploring the
local culture, landscapes and mountains. After we engage in Yoga there will be
some entertainment, we will then take dinner, and stay overnight in Ghorepani.
Day
06: Ghorepani – Poon Hill
We
will wake up early in the morning and go for one hour hike to Poon Hill where
we can enjoy panoramic mountain views and a beautiful sunrise. Then, we will trek down to
Ghorepani and have breakfast. From there we begin our trek to Tadapani, which
translated means far water supply in this village from long distance. The trail
climbs along ridges and through pine and rhododendron forests to Deurali. Then,
it descends to reach Banthanti; we reach Tadapani, and take part in Yoga in the
evening. We will be accommodated overnight in a tourist lodge.
Day
07: Tadapani – Ghandruk – Pokhara
We
will wake up in the morning and practise Yoga. After Yoga, we will have
breakfast. Then, our trek continues towards Ghandruk. After walking for around
four hours, we reach Ghandruk, a Gurung village which is the most interesting
ethnic village in Nepal, famous for its Gorkha soldiers. It has excellent
close-up views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre Himalayas. After lunch, we
drive back to Pokhara via Nayapul. We will stay overnight in Pokhara.
Day
08: Departure
We
will leave for the next destination in the morning after breakfast.
A.
Match the words in column A with their meanings in column B.
Column
A Column B
a.
magnificent i.
charming
b.
glaciers ii. surprised;
amazed
c.
hotspot iii. plants and
animals
d.
astonished iv. throughout
the entire year
e.
enchanting v. rivers of ice
f.
flora and fauna vi. extremely
attractive and impressive
g. perennial vii.
a place of significant activity
Answer:
a. magnificent = vi.
extremely attractive and impressive
b. glaciers = v. rivers of
ice
c. hotspot = vii. a place
of significant activity
d. astonished = ii.
surprised; amazed
e. enchanting = i.
charming
f. flora and fauna= iii. plants and animals
g. perennial = iv. throughout
the entire year
B.
Circle the correct answer.
a.
What are the visitors expected to achieve the most in this package holiday?
i.
enjoyment of panoramic views of mountain and landscapes
ii.
plenty of physical activity in the lap of nature
iii.
self-transformation with Yoga in serene hill stations
b.
What will the visitors do on the first day of their tour?
i.
go to Pokhara
ii.
discuss the programme
iii.
practise Yoga for an hour
c.
Where will they stay on the fourth day?
i.
at Tikhedhunga
ii.
at Banthanti
iii.
at Ghorepani
d.
What is the destination of the visitors on the sixth day?
i.
Ghorepani
ii.
Tadapani
iii.
Deurali
e.
Which place will the tourists visit last as a part of the package?
i. Ghandruk
ii. Nayapul
iii. Pokhara
C.
Answer the following questions.
a.
List any two advantages of the Yoga trek in the Nepali hilly region.
= i)
Integration of Yoga principles into
daily life.
ii) Physical and mental health benefits through Hatha Yoga
and meditation.
b.
Who can take part in this Yoga trek programme?
= This programme is open for all experience levels, so anyone
interested in strengthening their body, mind, and soul can participate
c.
What would you enjoy the most in Ghandruk if you were one of the
visitors?
Why?
= If I were one of the visitors, I would enjoy the close-up
views of Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre Himalayas in Ghandruk. The
breathtaking mountain vistas would provide a sense of awe and beauty, creating
a memorable experience
d.
How many days do the visitors do Yoga during the programme?
= The visitors do Yoga every day during the programme.
e. How is the Yoga hour mainly managed every day on this holiday
trek?
= The Yoga hour is mainly managed by
starting the day with a morning Yoga session after waking up. Participants have
tea before the Yoga session and then have breakfast. This routine allows them
to begin their trek with physical and mental well-being.
Speaking:
B. What will your plans be in the
following situations? Share with your friends.
a. You want to go swimming this
Saturday.
Friend A: I intend to go swimming
this Saturday.
Friend B: I'm planning to go
swimming this Saturday.
b. You and your friends are going to play football tomorrow
evening.
Friend A: We're going to play football tomorrow evening.
Friend B: I'm thinking of joining you guys to play football
tomorrow evening.
c. Your parents are planning to go to Darjeeling next week.
Friend A: My parents are planning to go to Darjeeling next week.
Friend B: I'm doing a small trek in the nearby hills next week.
d. Your friend has invited you to a birthday party tonight.
Friend A: My friend has invited me to a birthday party tonight.
Friend B: I'll go to the birthday party tonight as well.
e. You are invited to attend the wedding ceremony of one of your
friend's sister.
Friend A: I'm invited to attend the wedding ceremony of one of
my friend's sister.
Friend B: I'm planning to attend the wedding ceremony as well.
C. Talk about your plans in pairs. Use the structures from the box.
a. After SEE
Person A: I intend to study history after SEE.
Person B: I'm planning to study mathematics after SEE.
b. After earning a lot of money
Person A: I'm thinking of opening a supermarket after earning a
lot of money.
Person B: I'm planning to go on a world tour after earning a lot
of money.
c. For a party
Person A: I'll go to the party by bus.
Person B: I'm going on my cycle to the party.
d. To improve vocabulary
Person A: I'm thinking of buying a Nepali dictionary to improve
my vocabulary.
Person B: I intend to buy an English dictionary to improve my
vocabulary.
e. After completing a Bachelor's degree
Person A: I'm planning to go abroad after completing my
Bachelor's degree.
Person B: I intend to start my own business after completing my
Bachelor's degree.
Grammar
I
A.
Study the following sentences.
a.
A: Did you call your mother?
B:
Oops, I’ve forgotten! I’ll do it
right now.
b. I
can't decide what to wear tonight. I think I'll wear my pink saree.
c.
The bus will arrive here
soon.
d.
They have bought a lot of chocolates. They are going to have a party.
e.
The sky is overcast. It is going
to rain.
f. I'm meeting Jane at 8 o'clock on
Saturday.
g.
A: We're having a
party next Saturday. Would you like to come?
B:
I'd love to, but I'm quite busy that day.
h. I’m visiting my grandparents next week.
i. Are you doing anything interesting this
weekend?
B.
Choose the correct answer to complete the following sentences.
a.
It's really hot here. …….a window.
i.
I’ll open ii. I’m
opening
b. I
don't have a bank account. ............ an account in Nepal Bank Ltd.
i.
I’ll open ii. I’m
going to open
c.
A: Would you take tea or coffee?
B:
……… a coffee, please.
i.
I’ll have ii. I’m going to have
d.
I've decided that ……… to the class teacher about my family situation.
i.
I’ll speak ii.
I’m going to talk
e.
Next week, we .............. on lake Rara.
i.
will boat ii. will be
boating
f. I
would love to go out with you tomorrow but ……… dinner with Dolma.
i.
I’ll have ii. I’m
having
g. I
can't come to class next Monday .……… a tooth taken out.
i. I’ll have ii. I’m having
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know
His house is in the
village though;
He will not see me
stopping here
To watch his woods
fill up with snow.
My little horse must
think it queer
To stop without a
farmhouse near
Between the woods and
frozen lake
The darkest evening
of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is
some mistake.
The only other
sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely,
dark and deep,
But I have promises
to keep,
And miles to go
before I sleep,
And miles to go
before I sleep.
-Robert Frost
A.
Find the words from the text that match the following meanings.
a. an area of trees,
smaller than a forest
= woods
b. strange or unusual
= queer
c. the main house on
a farm, usually where the farmer lives
= farmhouse
d. a set of leather
and metal pieces that is put around the body of a horse
= harness
e. movement of the
air
= wind
f. covered in
something very soft
= downy
B.
Choose the correct answer.
a. Why does the
speaker stop while on the journey?
i.
to watch the woods filled up with snow
ii. to find food for
his or her horse
iii. to say hello to
the owner of the woods
iv. to go skating on
a frozen lake.
b. What is the setting of the
poem?
i. the woods on a bright, snowy
afternoon
ii. a village on a dark, snowy
evening
iii. a frozen lake on a bright,
snowy afternoon
iv. the woods on
a dark, snowy evening
c. Which one of the following
statements is true?
i. The woods are far away from
the village.
ii. The woods
are near some houses.
iii. The owner of the woods and
speaker are friends.
iv. The speaker of the poem does
not like the owner of the woods.
d. How did the horse respond when
the speaker stopped there?
i. stood calm
ii. did nothing
iii. shook its
harness
iv. asked the speaker a question
e. What does 'miles to go before
I sleep' mean?
i. The speaker feels tired and
sleepy.
ii. The speaker has lots of
desires to fulfill.
iii. The speaker
has lots of responsibilities to fulfill.
iv. The speaker has a long
distance to travel.
C.
Fill in the gaps with appropriate words from the box to complete the summary of
the poem.
[ promises, traveller,
journey, death, the woods, destination]
The
poet compares human life with a………. The speaker of the poem is a………... He has
to reach his ………before taking a rest. However, he is distracted by the
momentary pleasure in
the
form of……... His companion, the horse, reminds him of his ………….in life. The
speaker realizes that he has to fulfill many responsibilities before his…………...
The
poet compares human life with a journey. The speaker of the poem is a traveller.
He has to reach his destination before taking a rest. However, he is
distracted by the momentary pleasure in the form of the woods. His
companion, the horse, reminds him of his promises in life. The speaker
realizes that he has to fulfill many responsibilities before his death.
Grammar
A.
Use the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets to complete the
sentences.
a. As per the
schedule, the train ……….......… (leave) at 3 o'clock.
b. Look, that
aeroplane is looking shaky! It …..............…… (crash).
c. My daughter says
she ….........… (be) a doctor when she is older.
d. Tomorrow
……..........……… (be) a sunny day, according to the weather forecast.
e. A: What ….......……
(do) tomorrow evening?
B: Nothing special. I
think I ………....…… (stay) at home.
f. It’s very stuffy
here. Don't worry, I ….................… (open) the windows for you.
g. Ann is driving.
There is very little petrol left in the tank. The nearest petrol station is a
long way from here. She …… (run) out of petrol.
h. There is a hole in
the bottom of the boat. It is filling up with water quickly. It……………(sink).
Answer:
a. As per the
schedule, the train leaves at 3 o'clock.
b. Look, that
airplane is looking shaky! It is going to crash.
c. My daughter says
she wants to be a doctor when she is older.
d. Tomorrow will
be a sunny day, according to the weather forecast.
e. A: What are
you doing tomorrow evening?
B: Nothing special.
I think I will stay at home.
f. It’s very stuffy
here. Don't worry, I will open the windows for you.
g. Ann is driving.
There is very little petrol left in the tank. The nearest petrol station is a
long way from here. She will run out of petrol.
h. There is a hole
in the bottom of the boat. It is filling up with water quickly. It is
sinking.
2 Health and Hygiene
The
Acceleration behind Telehealth Services
(In this interview, Chun-Kai Chang ,
the Business Development Manager of Telehealth at Advantech, talks to
News-Medical about the acceleration behind telehealth services.)
Reporter
: To begin, can you give us a brief introduction into telehealth and what it
involves?
Chang
: Telehealth is a method of providing medical care remotely, usually
through video chat. Telehealth makes it possible to connect patients and clinicians from any location. It provides
access to a wide range of care, including primary care consultations, psychotherapy, physical therapy, and even
emergency services. It allows primary care clinicians and specialists to
further their reach for treating patients wherever there is an internet connection.
The benefits of telehealth for healthcare providers and patients is that these
services can be faster, safer, more effective, and less expensive in the long
run, especially during a time like the COVID-19 pandemic, where telehealth has
allowed access to medical care without going to hospitals to protect patients
and hospital staff from being exposed to the infection.
Reporter
: What are some of the main drivers behind the acceleration and momentum
of telehealth services?
Chang
: There are two major drivers for this fast-growing market. The
first and most recent driver for telehealth has been the global COVID-19
pandemic. Strong social distancing and minimal physical contact
precautions have pushed the shift to telehealth and remote consultations as it
aids in infection protection. These precautions and increased hospital bed
shortages have forced medical facilities to incorporate more telehealth technologies to keep up
with demand and maintain care continuity for patients at home. The second
driver is the shortage of medical professionals when demand is increasing every
year due to an aging population and more and more patients with chronic and non-communicable diseases.
For people living in rural areas, their medical demands are underserved due to insufficient
resources and long distances to drive into cities for care. Telehealth is one
of the promising ways to tackle the challenge of doctor shortages and expand specialists
and doctors' reach to patients.
Reporter
: In terms of this acceleration and momentum of telehealth services, we are
currently seeing, what are some items we can expect to see in the future?
Chang
: Telehealth will not replace face to face care services, but we will
incorporate it
into healthcare facilities' infrastructure. Patients will be selecting
providers based on their accessibility to telehealth services. With more access
to doctors, increasing patients using preventative care services and follow-up
care due to convenience will
start to emerge. These can lead to fewer readmissions and patient
complications. We will also see more use for early screening of patient triage in the field before they arrive
at hospitals.
Reporter : When it comes to remote patient monitoring for
clinicians, what impact does telehealth have on this?
Chang
: Remote patient monitoring could be one of the applications of
telehealth. Remote patient monitoring usually involves continuously collecting
patient's health data through wearable devices, such as vital signs and blood
sugars. The patient's data is then transmitted in real-time, monitored, and
reviewed by medical providers.In this way, medical providers could acquire a
whole picture of a patient's health condition and give a more precise diagnosis.
Reporter
: How has telehealth shaped the way clinicians work with each other?
Chang
: Clinician-to-clinician telehealth services have enabled medical professionals
to collaborate virtually with specialists in other locations to deliver
treatment and care to patients jointly. This service can range from remote
surgical mentoring to Tele-ICU and Tele-ER (like a stroke), in which on-site
staff work together with a remote physician/specialist team to assess patient's
condition. Telehealth solutions relieve the pressure of staffing gaps seen in
critical departments such as an emergency room and ICU.
Reporter
: What would you say are some of the biggest challenges clinicians currently
face with telehealth?
Chang
: Many hospitals are still facing the lack of infrastructure to implement
telehealth successfully, insufficient hardware, and the right technology for
each specialty. Some hospitals struggle with reliable networking
infrastructures like broadband, 4G, or Wi-Fi. This could limit the connectivity
within facilities and provide remote care to rural areas or mobile clinics.
Having
the right technology and tools, and place will be crucial to successful
telehealth programs. Even
though this new technology is quickly being integrated, there is a
learning curve to using telehealth versus traditional healthcare operations.
Users face obstacles such as learning to use different tools, online scheduling
for virtual visits, triage procedures, and billing policies. To overcome these
challenges, telehealth should be encouraged as a regular service and included
in health insurance. There would be more motives for healthcare providers to
invest in infrastructures and information system integration and deploy telehealth technology.
A.
The meanings of some of the words from the interview are given
below.
Find the words and fill in the crossword puzzle.
Across
1. psychological treatment of people using dialogue = PSYCHOTHERAPY
2. process of sorting patients =
TRIAGE
3. to prepare and arrange =
ARRANGE
4. special department of a hospital for intensive care of patients = ICU
Down
5. to include as a part =
INCORPORATE
6. identification of nature and cause of a disease = DIAGNOSIS
7. not having sufficient service = UNDERSERVED
8. epidemic over a wide geographical area = PANDEMIC
B.
Read the interview again and write whether the following statements are True
or False.
a. Internet service
is necessary to use telehealth services. TRUE
b. While providing
telehealth services, health professionals are at high risks of being infected due
to the exposure to patients. FALSE
c. Telehealth service
can be the best alternative to a face to face service TRUE
d. The problem with
the lack of medical staff will be solved to a great extent with telehealth
technology. TRUE
e. The success of
telehealth programmes depends on the infrastructure and the best use of IT
tools. TRUE
C.
Answer the following questions.
a.
What is telehealth service?
= Telehealth service is a method of providing medical care
remotely, usually through video chat.
b.
What are the advantages of using telehealth programmes?
= The advantages of using telehealth programs include faster,
safer, and more effective medical care, lower costs, and increased accessibility
to healthcare services.
c.
Why, according to Dr. Chang, is the telehealth service growing rapidly?
= According to Dr. Chang, the telehealth service is growing
rapidly due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing demand for
healthcare services.
d.
How is the telehealth programme important during a pandemic?
= During a pandemic, telehealth programs are important as they
allow access to medical care without the need to visit hospitals, reducing the
risk of infection for both patients and healthcare staff.
e.
Why are the patients in remote areas not getting adequate health services?
= Patients in remote areas may not be receiving adequate
healthcare services due to insufficient resources and long distances to travel
for medical care.
f. Mention the top three
challenges of telehealth services.
= The
top three challenges of telehealth services are the lack of infrastructure,
limited Connectivity in certain areas, and the learning curve for healthcare
professionals to adapt to telehealth technology.
Grammar
I
B.
Choose the correct answer.
a. I need help,
doctor. My baby doesn't sleep well. What ............. ?
i. had I better do ii. should I do iii. I should do
b. The aeroplane only
allows two pieces of luggage. You ...............pack too much or you will have
to take it out at the airport!
i.
had better not ii.
better not iii.
had not better
c. A: I think that
the grade my teacher gave me on my test is wrong.
B: Really? You
.................... to her after class today.
i. should to talk ii. ought to talk iii.
ought talk
d. It's raining and I
don't want to get my dress wet. I..............an umbrella.
i. had better not take ii.
had better to take iii.
had better take
e.
Dinesh loves chocolate, but he ....................too much or he will put on
weight.
i.
shouldn't eat ii.
should eat not iii.
should eat
f. My mother isn't
feeling well, so I told her that she ............. to the doctor.
i. ought go ii. ought to go
iii.
ought
g. A: It's so hot. B: You ...............your
jacket!
i.
should take off ii.
should put on iii.
should to take off
h. I'm going to visit
your country. Where ............. if I want to go
shopping?
i. should I go ii. I should go iii. ought to I go
Health is Wealth
Once
upon a time, there lived a benevolent
and kind-hearted king. But, the people weren’t happy with him
because he was very lazy and would not do anything other than eating and
sleeping.
He
spent days, weeks and months in his bed either eating something or sleeping.
The king became a couch potato and
the people started to worry about him.One day, the king realized that he
couldn’t move his body, not even his foot. He became very large and his obesity became a matter of fun,
calling him ‘bulky king’.
The
king invited expert doctors
from various parts of his country and offered them generous rewards to make him
fit. Unfortunately, none could help him gain his health and fitness back. The
king spent an enormous amount of money but everything went in vain.
One
fine morning, a holy man
visited the country. He heard about the ill health of the king, and informed
the minister at the palace that he could easily cure the king. Hearing these
promising words, the minister became very happy. He requested the king to meet
the holy man to get rid of his problem.
The
holy man resided at a
distant place. Since the king could not move his body, he asked the minister to
bring the holy man to the palace, but the holy man refused. He said that the king
had to go to him, in order to get cured. After strenuous efforts, the king met the holy man at the latter’s residence. The
holy man complimented the
king saying that he was a good ruler, and said that he would soon regain his
health. He asked the king to come for treatment the next day. He also told the
king would be treated only if he came on foot to the holy man’s residence.
The
king was unable to walk even a few steps on the road, but aided by his followers,
he reached the holy man’s place. Unfortunately, the holy man was not available
there and his devotee requested
the king to come and meet him the next day for treatment. This was repeated for
two weeks and the king never met the holy man, and never had any treatment.
Gradually,
the king realized that he felt a lot lighter, lost a considerable amount of
weight and felt more active than before. He realized the reason why the holy
man asked him to reach his place by walking. Very soon, the king regained his health, and the people
were very happy in his kingdom.
A. Learn these words
and complete the sentences with them.
[
benevolent, couch potato, obesity, devotee, strenuous]
a. ………….. can
increase the risk of heart disease because obese people are likely to suffer
from heart problems.
b. My father is kind, helpful and
generous. He has a…………….. attitude.
c. Take rest for a week. Avoid tasks
which require ………. physical activity.
d. I like God Shiva. I'm actually a
………………… of him.
e. My younger sister is a great ………… She
can watch TV 24 hours a day.
a. Obesity can increase the risk of heart disease because obese
people are likely to suffer from heart problems.
b. My father is kind, helpful, and generous. He has a benevolent
attitude.
c. Take rest for a week. Avoid tasks which require strenuous
physical activity.
d. I like God Shiva. I'm actually a devotee of him.
e. My younger sister is a great couch potato. She can watch TV
24 hours a day.
B. Answer the
following questions.
a. Why did people
not like the king though he was kind?
= People did not like the
king because he was lazy and would not do anything other than eating and
sleeping.
b. Why were the
specialists called to the palace and offered huge prizes?
= The specialists were called
to the palace and offered huge prizes to help the king regain his health and
fitness.
c. Why did the
minister become so happy?
= The minister became happy
because a holy man visited the country and claimed that he could cure the
king's illness.
d. Why did the
holyman tell the king to come to his place on foot for treatment?
= The holy man told the king
to come to his place on foot for treatment to make the king realize the
importance of physical activity and effort.
e. Why did the
holyman disappear after the first meeting with the king?
= The holy man disappeared
after the first meeting with the king to make the king realize the value of
effort and self-motivation.
f. How did the king
recover his health?
= The king recovered his
health by making the effort to reach the holy man's place on foot, which
resulted in him losing weight and becoming more active
g. What lesson did
you learn from the story?
= The lesson from the story
is that good health requires effort, and relying on others or seeking quick
solutions may not always lead to the desired results. Physical activity and
self-motivation are essential for maintaining health and well-being.
Grammar II
A. Study these
sentences.
a. The king would
be treated only if he came
on foot to the holy
man’s residence.
b. If Sarita had
an android mobile
phone, she would join the virtual classroom.
c. If the king had
lived an active life, his
health would not have worsened.
d. Had she studied
hard, she would
have secured the best result.
e. If we had
listened to the radio, we would
have heard the news.
f. It would not surprise me if he knew
the answer.
B. Complete the following
sentences with the correct form of the verbs
given in the
brackets.
a. I had seen Tshering a few minutes
ago. If you had come round earlier, you ……(see) him too.
b. I wish I were a bird. If I were a
bird, I ….. (fly) round the world.
c. Provided that you……(be) twenty, you
could play the match.
d. George was happy that he came to
Nepal. If he hadn’t, he ….(not see) Mt. Everest.
e. What would you do if you …(win) the
lottery of Rs. 1,00,000?
f. Seema missed the bus to go home. If
she ….(come) in time, she would have caught the bus.
g. She would lose weight if she ….. (not
eat) a lot of sweets.
h. They might have helped you if you ….(ask)
them.
i. If he …(drive) more carefully, he
might not have had that accident.
j. If everyone ….(turn) off unwanted
lights, we could save a lot of electricity.
Answer:
a. I had seen Tshering a few minutes ago. If
you had come round earlier, you would have seen him too.
b. I wish I were a bird. If I were a bird, I would
fly round the world.
c. Provided that you were twenty, you could
play the match.
d. George was happy that he came to Nepal. If
he hadn't, he would not have seen Mt. Everest.
e. What would you do if you won the
lottery of Rs. 1,00,000?
f. Seema missed the bus to go home. If she had
come in time, she would have caught the bus.
g. She would lose weight if she didn't eat
a lot of sweets.
h. They might have helped you if you had
asked them.
i. If he had driven more carefully, he
might not have had that accident.
j. If everyone turned off unwanted
lights, we could save a lot of electricity
C.
Complete each sentence in a suitable way.
a. If you had studied well, ……………..
b. If you asked me, ……….
c. If we had gone to the cinema, ………….
d. If you spoke English, ………….
e. If they listened to me, ………………
f. ………………….. if I had your address.
g. ………………….. I would have taken part in
the contest.
h. ………………….. we would walk to the
museum.
i. ………………. if there were not many sharks
there.
j. ………………. if she had taken the right
bus.
a. If you had studied well, you would have
passed the exam.
b. If you asked me, I would help you.
c. If we had gone to the cinema, we would
have watched a movie.
d. If you spoke English, we could
communicate better.
e. If they listened to me, they would
understand the situation.
f. I would have sent you a letter if I
had your address.
g. If I had known, I would have taken
part in the contest.
h. If the weather was nice, we would
walk to the museum.
i. It would be safer if there were not
many sharks there.
j. She would have arrived on time if
she had taken the right bus.
Unit 3 Family,
Market and Public Places
Thomas
and Jerry
Once
upon a time in a village, there was an old man named Jerry. He hadn’t seen his
son who lived in the city for a few years and wanted to meet him. He started his
journey and came to the city where his son used to work and stay. He approached the place where he used to
get letters from a long time ago. When he knocked on the door he was excited
and smiled with joy to meet his son. Unfortunately, someone else opened the door. Jerry
asked, “I suppose Thomas should be staying in this place.” The person said,
“No! He has left and moved to a different location.” Jerry was disappointed and just pondered how he was going to meet his
son.
He
started to walk down the street and the neighbours asked Jerry, “Are you
looking for Thomas?” Jerry responded by nodding his head. The neighbours gave Thomas’s office address to Jerry.
Jerry thanked them and started towards the path which would lead to his son.
Finally, Jerry
arrived
at the office and asked at the reception counter, “Could you please tell me
Thomas’s location, in this office?” The receptionist asked, “May I know how you are related
to him?” Jerry responded politely by saying,“I’m his father.” The receptionist
asked Jerry to wait for a moment then rang Thomas and conveyed the message.
Thomas was stunned and
told the receptionist to send his father to the cabin immediately.
Jerry
entered the cabin. As soon as he saw Thomas, his eyes were filled with tears. Thomas
was happy to see his father. They talked for a while and Jerry asked Thomas,
“Son! Mom dearly wants to see you. Will you go home with me?”
Thomas
responded, “I’m afraid, I can’t go home, father. I am very busy working for my
success and it’s hard to take leave to visit as my hands are full with lots of
stressful work.” Jerry gave a simple smile and said, “Okay! You may do your
work. I’ll be going back to our village this evening.” Thomas asked, “Would you
stay for a few days with me, please?” Jerry responded after a moment of
silence, “Son, you are busy with your tasks. I don’t want to make you
uncomfortable or become a burden
for you,” he continued, “I hope if I ever had a chance to meet you
again, I would be happy.” Then, he departed.
After
a few weeks, Thomas wondered why his father came alone after a long time, he
felt bad for treating his father in a weird manner. He felt guilty so took leave for a few days and went to
his village to meet his parents. When he went to the place where he was born
and grew up, he saw that his parents were not there. He was shocked and asked
the neighbours, “What happened here? My parents have to be here. Where are they
now?” The neighbours gave the address of the place where his parents were
staying.
Thomas
scurried to
the place and noticed that it was like a graveyard. His eyes were filled with tears and started to walk slowly
towards the place. His father noticed Thomas in the distance and waved his hand
to draw his attention. Thomas saw his father; started to run and hugged him as
soon as they met.
Jerry
asked, “How are you?” and continued, “What a surprise to see you here. I didn’t
expect that you would be coming to this place.” Thomas felt ashamed and kept his head down.
Jerry said, “Why are you feeling bad? Has anything wrong happened?” Thomas
responded, “No father” he continued, “It’s just I never knew that I would be
seeing you in this position in our village.”
Jerry
smiled and said, “I had taken a loan when you moved to the city for your
college to pay for your education, then again when you wanted a new car. But
due to a loss in farming, I couldn’t pay the loan back. I thought of approaching
you for help, but you were very busy and bustled with your work. I didn’t want to burden you with our problem and
remained silent. I had to let our home to go repay the loan.”
Thomas whispered,
“You could’ve told me. I’m not an outsider.” Jerry turned around and said, “You
were very busy and stressed with your work which made me remain quiet. All we
wanted was your happiness."
Thomas started to cry and hugged his father again. He apologised
to his father and asked him to forgive him for his mistake. Jerry radiated and said, “No need for that.
I’m content with
what I have now. All I want is that you spare some time for us, we love you very much and at this old age it’s
hard to travel to see you often.”
A.
The words in red in the story correspond to the meanings below.
Find the words and write them.
a. a load, typically
a heavy one =
burden
b. came near approached
c. so shocked that
one is temporarily unable to react =
stunned
d. left, especially
in order to start a journey =
departed
e. a burial ground =
graveyard
f. very strange;
bizarre =
weird
g. satisfied =
content
h. shined with energy
or happiness =
radiated
i. moved or ran
somewhere suddenly or rapidly = scurried
30 English
9
B.
Read the story again and decide whether the following statements are true
or false.
a. Jerry did not use
to get letters from his son. =
False
b. The neighbours
helped Jerry find the way to meet his son. =
True
c. Thomas was eager
to meet his father in his office. =
False
d. Thomas asked his
father to stay with him for a week. =
True
e. Thomas felt bad to
see his father in his workplace. =
False
f. The story tries to
show that parents’ happiness is tied up with their children’s success and
happiness. =
True
C.
Answer the following questions.
a. Why did Jerry go to the
city?
= Jerry
went to the city to meet his son whom he hadn't seen in a few years
b.
What did the father want from his son?
= The father wanted his son, Thomas, to come home with him and
visit his mother.
c.
Did the father come back to the village happily? Why?
= The father came back to the village disappointed because his
son, Thomas, couldn't accompany him and he had to sell their home to repay a
loan.
d.
What made Thomas decide to visit his father?
= Thomas felt guilty for not spending time with his father and
realized the importance of family. He decided to take leave from work and visit
his parents in the village.
e.
Why did Jerry take the loan?
= Jerry took the loan to pay for Thomas' education and later
for a new car.
f.
Why did Jerry return home without telling his son about the loan?
= Jerry didn't want to burden his busy and stressed son with
their financial problems, so he remained silent about the loan
g.
What lesson do you learn from this story?
= The story highlights the importance of family,
communication, and making time for loved ones. It reminds us that parents'
happiness is tied to their children's well-being and that open and caring relationships
are essential.
Grammar
I
A.
Study the following examples about making requests and offers along with their
responses.
a. ‘Can I help you?’ ‘Yes, sure.’
b. ‘Would you like some help?’ ‘Yes,
of course.’
c. ‘Would you like to come for lunch
this weekend?’ ‘Oh, I’d love to, thank you.’
d. ‘Can you help me with this desk
for a moment?’ ‘Yes, sure. Where do you want to put it?'
e. ‘Could you say congratulations to
your brother on my behalf?
B.
Complete the following conversations using can, could
and would.
a. A: …… I get you
something to drink?
B: Yes, please. A
glass of lemonade for me.
b. A:…….. you tell me
where the nearest community school is, please?
B: I’m sorry, I’m not
from around here.
c. A:
................ you like me to answer the phone?
B. Yes, please, that
...... be lovely.
d. A: I’ve finished
my homework. …….. I play now?
B: OK. You may.
e. A: ….. I come
round to your house sometime later?
B: Well, actually, my
dad’s not feeling well. Maybe another time.
f. A: ……. you mind
passing me that register, please?
B: Yes, of course.
Here you go.
g. A: …….. you like
me to talk to the head teacher?
B: Oh. Yes please! ……
you?
h. A: ......... you
lend me Rs. 200, please?
B: I suppose so, but
I need it back before next month.
i. A: ……you mind if I
used your pen, madam?
B: Not at all, go ahead.
Answer:
a. A: Can I get you something to drink?
B: Yes, please. A glass of lemonade for me.
b. A: Could you tell me where the nearest
community school is, please?
B: I'm sorry, I'm not from around here.
c. A: Would you like me to answer the
phone?
B: Yes, please, that would be lovely.
d. A: I've finished my homework. Can I
play now?
B: Okay. You may.
e. A: Could I come round to your house
sometime later? B: Well, actually, my dad's not feeling well. May be another
time.
f. A: Would you mind passing me that
register, please?
B: Yes, of course. Here you go.
g. A: Can you like me to talk to the head
teacher?
B: Oh. Yes, please! Would you?
h. A: Would you lend me Rs. 200, please?
B: I suppose so, but I need it back before next month
Dance
The
first time I went to a disco I was very young and shy. However, I decided to
go. Do you remember the Star Disco in Thamel? It was a lovely place….. always
full of beautiful girls. Of course, most of them are grandmothers now!
When
I went to the disco, I was much too shy to ask anyone for a dance. So I sat down
and thought I'd watch for a while. You know, see how the other lads did it. There was a lovely
girl in a blue dress. A man walked up to her and said, "Excuse me. May I
have the pleasure of
the next dance?" She looked up at him and said "Eh? What did you
say?" So he said, "I wonder if you would be kind enough to dance with
me?.....er….if you don’t mind?” “No, thank you very much."
A
few minutes later, this other chap
arrived. He gave her this big smile and said, "Would you be
so kind as to have the next dance with me?" “Pardon?” she said. "Would you
mind having the next dance with me?" he said, a bit nervously this time,
"No thanks."
Then,
this third fellow came
over. He was very good-looking, you know, black teeth, white hair- sorry, I
mean white teeth, black hair! He said, ever so politely, "Can I...I
mean...could I... no, might I have the next dance with you?" "Sorry",
she said, "My feet are aching."
By
now, I was terrified. I
mean, she'd said 'no' to all of them! Then this fourth character thought he'd
try. "Would you like to dance?" She looked straight at him.
"No."
Well,
I decided to go home. I was wearing an old jacket and trousers, and nobody
would say that I was good-looking! Just as I was walking past her, she smiled.
"Er... dance?" I asked. "Thank you very much," she replied.
And that was that! It's our twentieth wedding anniversary next week.
A. Find words from
the story which are similar in meaning to the words given below.
a. man =
chap fellow lad
b. came =
arrived
c. clothes = dress jacket
and trouser
B. Choose the correct
answer from the alternatives given and complete the sentences
a. The storyteller is probably…
i. a comedian ii.
a musician iii. an actor
b. When he arrived at the disco, he
first…..
i. saw his grandmother ii. saw some guys dancing iii. saw a beautiful girl
c. Now his age may be about…
i. 20 years ii. 30 years iii.
40 years
d. The lovely girl….
i. didn’t dance at all ii. became nervous iii. danced at last
e. The story can be best described as…
i. humorous ii. serious iii. sad
Grammar II
A. Match the sentence
halves to make full sentences.
a. I'd i. a good dentist?
b. Would it be ii. a table for six?
c. Would you be able to iii. possible to invite my cousin?
d. Could you recommend iv. you like me to call a taxi?
e. Can I book a v. get me a ticket for the concert?
f. Would vi. like to rent an apartment.
Answer:
a. I'd like to invite my cousin.
b. Would it be possible to get me a ticket
for the concert?
c. Would you be able to recommend a good
dentist?
d. Could you get me a table for six?
e. Can I book a taxi?
f. Would you like to rent an apartment?
B. Complete the
sentences below in any way you like to make
requests or offers.
a.
Would you like me to help you with your luggage?
b.
Can I offer you a cup of coffee?
c.
Could you please pass me the salt?
d.
Would it be possible to borrow your car for the weekend?
e.
Would you mind closing the window?
f.
Could you possibly lend me some money?
g. Would you like to join me for dinner?
Unit 4 Life
and Death
Death is a Fiction
Did you ever see
somebody who actually died and came back? No. There may be a near death
experience. Near is not good enough. Near water is not as good enough as water,
isn’t it? So, some people have nearly died, that is not good enough. So you
have not experienced it, you have not seen it, nor have you had a first-hand
information from anybody. So from where did you get this idea that there is
something called as death? Death is a fiction created by ignorant people. Death is
the creation of people who live their lives in total unawareness. There is only
life, life and life alone, moving from one dimension to another, another
dimension to another. See, what you call as life right now, the process of
life; you can also refer to it as death. You can say “I am living right now” or
you can say “I am dying right now.” Actually, from the day you are born you are
slowly dying. One day the process will be complete. Right now it is on the way.
You may be thinking you are going to many places, but as far as your body is
concerned, without a moment’s distraction, it is going straight to the grave, nowhere else.
Isn’t it so?
So, is death okay
or not okay? Even these kinds of questions which are coming up are silly, because whether
you say it is okay or not okay, anyway you will die. Every moment you are playing
between life and death and life and death – actually it is so. This inhalation, exhalation... You inhaled,
life happened. You exhaled and did not inhale again, death happened, isn’t it?
See, every moment
in Yoga we say inhalation is life, exhalation is death. You exhale, and if you
do not take in the next inhalation it dislodges you from the body.
So fragile, isn’t it so?
Something so fragile is the basis of your existence here. Death is walking with
you every step. It is so close all the time.
There is nothing
wrong with death; it has to happen. Only because there is death, there is life.
You need to understand that the moment you are born, you have a death sentence
upon you. When, where, and how is the only question, but you are on death row.
Your death is confirmed, isn’t it? We do not know whether you will get educated
or not; we do not know whether you will get married or not; we do not know
whether you will know joy or not; we do not know whether you will know misery or not; but we know
one day you will die. That one thing is guaranteed. This whole fear
of death has come simply because you have no idea what it is. You have formed
ideas about everything, just about everything. But it does not matter what
ideas you have formed about life, when you are confronted with the moment of
death, you really do not know anything.
That is one space of life which has
remained uncorrupted by the human mind.
Everything else we have corrupted, isn’t it? Whatever was supposed to be sacred, all these things
are hugely corrupted by the human mind.
Human minds have
corrupted love, relationships, God, Divinity – everything they
have corrupted and twisted out whichever way
they want. Death is one thing that they are still clueless about–though a lot
of people would like to talk authoritatively about it. They know they are going to go
to heaven; they are
dead sure about it. If they are so sure, I don’t see what they are waiting for.
They are doing everything not to go to heaven. Why? If you are
so sure you are going to a wonderful place, a better place than this, and then
you must hurry up. But because you are not sure, you talk. You are not 100%
sure where you will go, what will happen to you. Just to solace yourself, just to
be able to psychologically handle life, you create all these things. But essentially, the very idea of
death has come to you because people have been talking about it without knowing
about it. Otherwise, if your societies did not speak about it, you would just
know the way you are right now, your present existence, is not permanent. That
you would know, but you would not have any other ideas about it. Even now you
do not have any idea about it; you imagine that you have.
-Sadhguru (excerpt
from Life and Death in one breath)
A. Find the words
from the text that have the following meanings.
a. a
thing that is imagined: fiction
b. a
way of looking at something: perspective
c. to
force somebody to leave: dislodge
d.
faced somebody so that you could not avoid: confronted
e. to
make somebody feel better: solace
B. Fill in the blanks
with appropriate words.
a.
Death is a fiction created by human beings.
b.
Ultimately, we are moving straight to the grave.
c.
According to the speaker, death is confirmed. It is sure to
happen.
d.
Human beings have corrupted everything and they have twisted it
whichever way they want.
C. Answer the
following questions.
a. According to the
speaker, there is only life. How?
According
to the speaker, there is only life because life is a continuous process, moving
from one dimension to another.
b. According to the
speaker, what is life?
According
to the speaker, life is the process of existence, which includes both
inhalation (life) and exhalation (death).
c. Why is there
nothing wrong with death?
There
is nothing wrong with death because it is a natural part of life. Without
death, there would be no life.
d. Why do we fear
death?
We fear
death because we do not fully understand it and because it represents the
unknown. The fear of death arises from the uncertainty of what happens after
death and the attachment to life.
e. Why do people
have an idea of death?
People
have an idea of death because it has been talked about and discussed, even
though their understanding of it may be limited or based on beliefs and
assumptions.
D. What is your view about death? Write a short paragraph
Death
is a natural and inevitable part of life. It is the end of our physical
existence, but what happens after death remains unknown. While death may evoke
fear and uncertainty, it is important to accept its inevitability and focus on
living a meaningful and fulfilling life. Death reminds us of the impermanence
of life and can serve as a motivation to make the most of the time we have. It
is a reminder to cherish our loved ones, pursue our passions, and contribute
positively to the world. While death may be a difficult concept to comprehend,
it is essential to approach it with acceptance and a sense of peace.