Class Nine English

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.

Grammar I

A. Rewrite the following sentences using the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets.

a. The winter follows the autumn season.

b. The human body consists of some 60 trillion individual cells.

c. Cows feed on grass.

d. He earns a handsome salary every month.

e. Akila makes delicious cookies.

f. Arati and her husband live in Singapore.

g. Do you like chocolate milk?

h. He does not want to go to the movies.

i. My grandfather adores his pet dog.

j. Plants need water and sunlight for photosynthesis.

k. He has a big apartment in Venice.

B. Make a statement or a question using these prompts. Use the present simple.

a. I/not/check/my emails when I get to school.

b. you/watch/the news on TV every day?

c. she/wear/a red dress.

c. you/have/a school bus?

d. what/you/want to drink?

e. you/not/need more reading practice.

f. your friend/not/like computer games.

g. mum/wash/car once a week.

Answers:

a. I do not check my emails when I get to school.

   Do you check your emails when you get to school?

b. Do you watch the news on TV every day?

c. She wears a red dress.

c. Do you have a school bus?

d. What do you want to drink?

e. You do not need more reading practice.

f. Your friend does not like computer games.

   Does your friend like computer games?

g. Mom washes the car once a week.

   Does mom wash the car once a week?

 

C. Change the following sentences into negative and question.

a. The swimming pool opens everyday at 9: 30 am.

b. I use my car very often.

c. John comes from Mexico.

d. I play the piano very well.

e. Ann watches television a lot.

f. I write to my parents every month.

g. This car breaks down every five hours.

Answers:

a. Does the swimming pool open every day at 9:30 am?

   The swimming pool does not open every day at 9:30 am.

b. I do not use my car very often.

   Do you use your car very often?

c. Does John come from Mexico?

   John does not come from Mexico.

d. I do not play the piano very well.

   Do you play the piano very well?

e. Ann does not watch television a lot.

   Does Ann watch television a lot?

f. I do not write to my parents every month.

   Do you write to your parents every month?

g. This car does not break down every five hours.

   Does this car break down every five hours?

 

 

Crossing the Bar

Sunset and evening star,

And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

When I put out to sea,

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,

And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

When I embark;

46 English 9

For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

When I have crost the bar.

-Alfred Lord Tennyson

A. Match the words in column A with their meanings in column B.

a. moaning=    v. complaining

b. boundless=  iv. never-ending; infinite

c. twilight=      vii. dusk

d. embark=      iii. go on board

e. tho’=            ii. though

f. bourne=        i. a boundary; a limit

g. crost=          vi. crossed

B. Fill in the gaps with the words/phrases given below to complete the

paraphrase of the poem.

I notice the sunset and evening star in the sky, and hear a sound calling for me loud and clear. I hope that the sandbar will not be disturbed when I go out to sea. Instead, I want to be carried out floating on a tide moving so slowly it seems almost asleep, and which is too swollen to make a sound. That's what I want when I return home to the depths of the great unknown.

Twilight comes with the evening bell, which will be followed by darkness. There don't need to be any sadness goodbyes when I go.

 

Even though I'll be going far from this time and place, on the tide of death, I hope to meet God, who has been like my pilot in this journey, when I've made it across the bar.

 

C. Answer the following questions.

a. Where does the speaker have to go crossing the sandbar?

   The speaker has to go out to sea, crossing the sandbar.

 

b. Why can't the tide make a huge sound or create a lather?

   The tide is described as moving so slowly that it seems almost asleep, and it is too full (swollen) to make a sound or create a lather.

 

c. What do the twilight and the evening bell suggest in the poem?

   Twilight and the evening bell suggest the approaching darkness and the end of the day.

 

d. Where is the speaker going without accepting sad goodbyes?

   The speaker is going on a journey, crossing the bar (symbolizing death), without accepting sad goodbyes.

 

e. Who is the only agent that helps the speaker to go far on his journey?

   The speaker hopes to meet God, who has been like a pilot, to help him go far on his journey.

 

f. Does the speaker fear death? Why/Why not?

   The speaker does not explicitly mention fearing death in the poem. However, the speaker expresses hope and a desire for a peaceful transition, suggesting a certain acceptance of the inevitable.

 

g. What does the pilot symbolize?

   The pilot symbolizes God or a divine presence who guides and assists the speaker on their journey, possibly representing a spiritual or religious belief in the afterlife.

 

Grammar II

A. Complete the following sentences with the correct adverbs from the

brackets.

a. I see one or two movies every week. I often go to the movies.

b. I let my roommate borrow my car just once. I rarely let my roommate borrow my car.

c. Maria eats cereal for breakfast seven days a week. Maria usually eats cereal for breakfast.

d. Four out of five visitors to the museum stay for three hours or longer. Museum visitors usually stay for at least three hours.

e. We occasionally have quizzes in history class. The teacher sometimes gives quizzes in history class.

f. Subina always misses the morning assembly. She rarely arrives at school on time.

g. In the desert, it rains only two days between May and September every year. It rarely rains there in the summer.

h. Rohit asks me to go to the winter camp, but I don't accept his invitation. I seldom go to the winter camp.

i. Lisa and Samrat go fishing at least three times a week. They seldom go out to dinner with each other.

B. Rewrite the following sentences with the correct alternatives from

the brackets.

a. Your friendship over the years and your support has meant a great deal to us.

b. Hamilton Family Center, a shelter for teenage runaways in San Francisco, offers a wide variety of services.

c. One of the major sources of income of Trinidad is tourism.

d. The chances of your being promoted are excellent.

e. There was a Pokemon card stuck to the refrigerator.

f. Neither the professor nor his assistants were able to attend the conference.

g. Many hours at the driving range have led us to design golf balls with GPS locators in them.

h. Discovered in the soil of our city garden was a button dating from the turn of the century.

 

5  Ethics, Norms and Values

Why “I’m Sorry” Doesn’t Always Translate

Even after decades of cooperation in business and politics, America and Japan still trip over a seemingly simple concept: the apology. Neither culture appears to fully understand what the other means or expects. For instance, most Americans were unmoved by Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda’s effusive apologies in 2010, after widespread reports of malfunctioning Prius  accelerators. Japan, for its part, bristled when a US submarine commander didn’t immediately apologise after colliding with and sinking a Japanese fishing boat off Hawaii in 2001.

The confusion over the meaning of and occasion for “I’m sorry” extends beyond those countries; indeed, it seems that virtually every culture has its own rules. In India, other researchers have noted, apologies are far less common than in Japan. In Hong Kong, they are so prevalent and ritualized that many people are inured to them.

Our own work found that a core issue is differing perceptions of culpability: Americans see an apology as an admission of wrongdoing, whereas Japanese see it as an expression of eagerness to repair a damaged relationship, with no culpability necessarily implied. And this difference, we discovered, affects how much traction an apology gains.

In an initial survey of US and Japanese undergraduates, the US students were more likely to say that an apology directly implied guilt. The Japanese students were more likely to apologise even when they weren’t personally responsible for what had happened. Perhaps for this reason, they apologised a lot more; they recalled issuing an average of 11.05 apologies in the previous week,

whereas US students recalled just 4.51.

In a second study, we looked at the utility of apologies for repairing trust. We asked undergraduates from both countries to imagine that they were managers and showed them a video in which an applicant for an accounting job apologised for having deliberately filed an incorrect tax return for a prior client. The Japanese students were more willing than their US counterparts to trust the candidate’s assertion that she wouldn’t engage in such behavior again and to offer her a job. We believe that this is owing to Americans’ inclination to associate apologies with culpability.

The finding that Americans link apologies with blame is in keeping, we’d argue, with a psychological tendency among Westerners to attribute events to individuals’ actions. Thus it makes sense that in the US an apology is taken to mean “I am the one who is responsible.” It also stands to reason that in Japan which, like many other East Asian countries, has a more group-oriented culture; apologies are heard as “It is unfortunate that this happened.” Researchers who’ve compared apologies in America and China have found a similar pattern: US apologies serve to establish personal responsibility, while Chinese ones focus on the larger consequences of the transgression.

Only with a deep understanding of such differences, the executives can make effective use of the apology as a tool for facilitating negotiations, resolving conflicts, and repairing trust. And misunderstandings over apologies are just one aspect of a broad semantic disconnect between East and West that’s too often ignored in the rush to globalisation. Managers would do well to tune in to other cultural nuances that are easily lost in translation.

-William Maddux, Peter H. Kim, Tetsushi Okumura, and Jeanne Brett

A. Find the words/phrases from the text for the following meanings.The first letter has been given.

a. t……........ to have difficulty saying something clearly or correctly

b. e………… showing too much emotion

c. b………… became annoyed or offended

d. i………... accustomed to do something

e. c……….. the fact of being responsible

f. a…..... ... a statement saying that you strongly believe something to be true

g. a…....... to say or believe that something is the result of a particular thing

h. s……… connected with the meaning of words and sentences

i. n……… a very slight difference in meaning

Answers:

a. stumble

b. effusive

c. bristled

d. inured

e. culpability

f. assertion

g. attribute

h. semantic

i. nuance

 

B. Match the first halves in column A with their endings in column B to

make complete sentences.

a. Americans didn't show                   iv. sympathy to Akio Toyoda's effusive apologies.

b. People are accustomed                    iii. to an apology in Hong Kong.

c. Japanese use an apology                  v. to repair their damaged relationship.

d. American participants seemed        i. less interested in a second research.

e. Researchers found                           ii. similar patterns in East Asian countries.

C. Answer the following questions.

a. Why did Japan become annoyed with the US submarine commander?

Japan became annoyed with the US submarine commander because he didn't immediately apologize after colliding with and sinking a Japanese fishing boat off Hawaii in 2001

b. How do Americans and Japanese perceive an apology?

Americans perceive an apology as an admission of wrongdoing, while the Japanese perceive it as an expression of eagerness to repair a damaged relationship without necessarily implying culpability.

c. What, according to the survey, is the average result of an apology in Japanese and American students?

According to the survey, Japanese students recalled issuing an average of 11.05 apologies in the previous week, while US students recalled just 4.51

d. What was displayed in a video show?

The video displayed an applicant for an accounting job apologizing for having deliberately filed an incorrect tax return for a prior client.

e. Who were the respondents of the second study?

The respondents of the second study were undergraduates from both the United States and Japan.

f. How can the executives apply an apology?

Executives can apply an apology as a tool for facilitating negotiations, resolving conflicts, and repairing trust by understanding the cultural nuances and differences associated with apologies in different cultures.

 

Grammar I

A. Read the text and underline the verb forms in present continuous tense.

Hello everybody! Look at this nice picture. Here is one of the moments I prefer when we are all together on a nice Sunday afternoon. But let me introduce myself! I’m Bob, I am standing in front of my father who is reading the newspaper. Mum is listening to her favourite songs on the radio. My two sisters, Rose and Sally, are playing with their dolls. My grandfather is having a nap and granny is drinking a cup of tea. The cat is running after the birds as usual and only my cousins are doing real activities; Ken is watering Mum’s flowers and Mike is cleaning the

windows. “Can you imagine that Sunday afternoon!”

B. Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets to complete the sentences.

a. Be quiet! The baby is sleeping.

b. It is raining cats and dogs here in the Monsoon season.

c. John is busy. He is working at the moment.

d. Please keep quiet, I am listening to the radio. You know I am listening to the news in the mornings.

e. What time does the first bus leave for Kathmandu?

f. I usually don't wear a scarf, but today I am wearing one because it's unusually cold.

g. She is traveling to Dhangadhi next weekend.

h. Pasang is in the classroom at the moment. He is studying History.

i. These days most people are writing emails instead of writing letters.

j. What sort of clothes are teenagers wearing nowadays?

k. What are you doing tonight? Would you like to come and watch the game?

l. You look worried. What are you thinking of?

m. She usually drives a taxi. But today, she is driving a lorry.

n. These kids are not doing what I've asked them to do.

 

 

Dear JetBlue Customers,

We are sorry and embarrassed. But most of all, we are deeply sorry. Last week was the worst operational week in JetBlue’s seven year history. As a customer scheduled to be on one of our flights during this period,we know we let you down. Following the severe winter ice storm in the

Northeast, we subjected you to unacceptable delays, flight cancellations, lost baggage, and other major inconveniences. The storm disrupted the movement of aircraft, and, more importantly, disrupted the movement of JetBlue’s pilot and inflight crewmembers who were depending on those planes to get them to the airports where they were scheduled to serve you. With the busy President’s Day weekend upon us, rebooking opportunities were scarce and hold times at 1-800-JETBLUE were unacceptably long or not even available, further hindering our recovery efforts.

Words cannot express how truly sorry we are for the anxiety, frustration and inconvenience that you experienced. This is especially saddening because JetBlue was founded on the promise of bringing humanity back to air travel and making the experience of flying happier and easier for

everyone who chooses to fly with us. We know we failed to deliver on this promise to you last week.

We have begun implementing immediate corrective steps to regain your confidence in us as part of a comprehensive plan to provide better and timelier information to you, more tools and resources for our crewmembers and improved procedures for handling operational difficulties in the future. We are confident, as a result of these actions that JetBlue will emerge as a more reliable and even more customer responsive airline than ever before.

Most importantly, we have published the JetBlue Airways Customer Bill of Rights; our official commitment to you of how we will handle operational interruptions going forward including details of compensation. I have a video message to share with you about this industry leading action. You deserved better, a lot better, from us last week. Nothing is more important than regaining your trust and all of us here hope you will give us the opportunity to once again welcome you onboard and provide you the positive JetBlue experience you have come to expect from us.

Sincerely,

David Neeleman

Founder and CEO JetBlue Airways

A. Match the words in column A with their meanings in column B.

a. disrupt                     - iii. to make it difficult for something to continue in the normal way

b. crewmembers          - v. all the people working on a ship, plane, etc.

c. hinder                      - iv. to make it difficult for somebody to do something or for something to happen

d. inconvenience         - ii. trouble or problem, especially concerning what you need or would like yourself

e. emerge                     - i. to come out of a dark, confined or hidden place

B. Answer the following questions.

a. Who has written the letter?

- David Neeleman

b. Who is it addressed to?

- JetBlue Customers

c. How long has JetBlue been serving its customers?

 - Seven years

d. What was the main cause of inconvenience to the passengers?

- Severe winter ice storm in the Northeast

e. What sort of service does this company promise?

- Bringing humanity back to air travel and making the experience of flying happier and easier

f. What does the JetBlue Airways Customer Bill of Rights contain?

- Details of how they will handle operational interruptions in the future, including compensation.

 

Grammar II

A. Use the correct form of the verbs given in the brackets to rewrite this text.

Sophiya is sitting in the classroom. Her teacher is standing in front of the class teaching. But, Sophiya is doing something else. She is daydreaming. She is not in the class. She is dancing on a stage in front of hundreds of people. She is wearing a beautiful costume. She is tapping and twirling. She is spinning on one leg. She is kicking her feet. She is leaping and flying through the air. The audiences are standing on the floor. They are clapping and shouting “Bravo! Bravo!!”.

“Sophiya?”

“Sophiya?” her teacher is calling. He is not teaching anymore.

“Yes?” Sophiya is feeling a bit embarrassed. Her cheeks are getting red.

“Are you feeling okay? You shouted ‘Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!’ in the class.”

“Sorry! I am just enjoying the class so much. ‘Bravo! Bravo!’.”

 B. Complete the sentences with the use of correct form of any relevant verbs.

a. A: We are going to the cinema tonight.

   B: Can I go with you?

b. A: I go on holiday two or three times a year.

   B: That's great! And where are you going this year?

c. I think it's better to stay. It is raining and we need an umbrella.

d. Who is that man? Why is he staring at us? What does he want?

e. Tomorrow, I am visiting my doctor in the morning.

f. Where's John? He is listening to a new song in this room.

g. Rita worked hard all day yesterday, but she is not working today.

h. Nitu is reading a story at the moment.

i. The plane is leaving the runway now. You are too late.

j. I told you that I am not working with you anymore. You're simply not a team player

Unit6 Custom and Culture

Sky Burials

Sky Burials are traditional custom in Tibetan Buddhism to say farewell to their dead. These days, outsiders are mostly forbidden from witnessing them.I had heard of Tibetan Sky Burials with a mixture of horror and fascination.To put it bluntly, a dead body is chopped up into pieces and fed to waiting vultures.

 

So, we arrived at a very isolated and traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Tagong in North Eastern Sichuan. I thought, "let's just look at the site where it happens". We'd been told that foreigners were not allowed to experience the secret ritual anyway. Our driver directed us up to the top of the mountain where the burials take place. It was surrounded by a sea of Tibetan prayer flags and you could just make out a kind of stone slab.

 

So we hiked up there. Upon arriving, we could hear Tibetan nuns chanting. "How lovely?" I thought.

Then I turned and saw about 100 vultures sitting on the hill, waiting and then, what looked like a body bag on the stone slab.

 

I actually couldn't believe it. “Have we stumbled into the start of a sky burial?” Through a translation app I asked one of the Tibetans next to me what was happening.

 

"Flesh eating birds," he replied.

"Oh, can we stay?" I asked.

"Yes, but on the side and no photos," he replied.

 

"This is amazing," I thought, but then I saw my kids. My wife and I had to make quick decisions.

 

We gave our six-year-old son the iPad to play computer games. He was thrilled, and we had never before been so happy to give it to him. He was too young to see this.

 

As for my 11-year-old son and my 13-year-old daughter, my wife Catherine quickly sat them down and told them what was about to happen and said it was their choice to stay or go.

 

We gave it to them straight, but told them the cultural and religious context.To their credit they stayed. I was nervous. The first time I'd seen a dead body when I was 12 and it had a profound effect on me. Before we knew it, the bag was taken off and the corpse was revealed. It looked like a middle-aged woman.

 

The Rogyapa, body breaker, stormed up the side of mountain. He was dressed in a thick, dark scarlet coloured coat with a black hood. With a butcher knife in hand, he wasted no time in carving up the body. My stomach sunk. It was gruesome, and I just stopped myself from throwing up. My kids though seemed to take it in their stride.

 

The vultures were growing impatient and started to jump at site of the flesh. The body breaker gave the signal and the Tibetans holding the birds back let them through.

 

They swarmed, in a frenzy jumping on top of each other tearing at the flesh. It was unbelievable.

It only took at most 15 minutes and the entire corpse was gone. Every last piece of flesh had been eaten, leaving only the bones behind. Then the body breaker gathered up the human bones and began to pulverize them with a mallet. He mixed that with yak butter and barley flour. In one

last gesture, he walked into the middle of the vultures and threw it high in the air. And with that he was gone.

 

There was absolutely nothing left of the body. It is considered a bad omen if vultures don't eat the body or even if small bits are left. Tibetans see the vultures as Dakinis, like angels who take soul into the heavens to await reincarnation and the next life. They consider the body as a mere vessel for the soul.

 

And at the end of it all, a peace and calmness seemed to descend over the scene. Everyone seemed happy that the ritual had been fulfilled.My kids too, surprisingly, were fine. They seemed to be able to understand it; an ancient culture giving a meaning to lives.

 

I was a proud dad on that day, proud of their maturity and intelligence. But as for my six-year-old son, he was none the wiser. He'd been deeply engrossed by his iPad, playing Minecraft the whole time.

                                                     - Matthew Carney

A. Choose the words from the box that match with the given meanings from a - h.

forbidden        fascination       profound         gruesome         frenzy     pulverise  omen   engrossed

a. ………… very great

b. ………… a state of great activity and strong emotion

c. ………… very unpleasant and filling with horror

d. ………… not allowed

e. ………… a sign of what is going to happen in the future

f. ………… very strong attraction

g. ………… involved in something with whole attention

h. ………… to make something into a fine powder

Answer:

a. profound

b. frenzy

c. gruesome

d. forbidden

e. omen

f. fascination

g. engrossed

h. pulverize

 

B. Write True for true statements and False for false ones.

a. Foreign visitors are welcome to see Sky Burial rituals.

b. The visitors are not allowed to take photos of the rituals.

c. The vultures took more than fifteen minutes to finish the entire corpse.

d. The Tibetans perceive the body as a vessel for the soul.

e. The youngest son of the writer was busy with his toys.

f. The author visited the burial sites with his wife and three children.           

Answers:

a. False

b. True

c. False

d. True

e. True

f. True

 

C. Answer the following questions.

a. Why did the author visit a traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery?

The author visited the traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery to witness the Sky Burial ritual or observe the site where it takes place.

b. What did the author see on the hill?

On the hill, the author saw a stone slab and around 100 vultures waiting, along with what appeared to be a body bag.

c. Why did the author give the iPad to his youngest son?

The author gave the iPad to his youngest son to keep him occupied and distracted from witnessing the Sky Burial, as he was considered too young to see it.

d. Describe the appearance of a Rogyapa, the body breaker.

Rogyapa, the body breaker, was dressed in a thick, dark scarlet-colored coat with a black hood and carried a butcher knife.

e. What did the body breaker do after collecting the bones?

After collecting the bones, the body breaker pulverized them with a mallet. He then mixed the pulverized bones with yak butter and barley flour. Finally, he threw the mixture into the air amidst the vultures.

f. What is considered to be a bad sign?

It is considered a bad sign if vultures don't eat the body or if small bits of the body are left behind.

g. Why did the author feel proud?

The author felt proud because his older children, despite their young age, showed maturity and intelligence by choosing to stay and witnessing the Sky Burial ritual, understanding its cultural and religious context.

Grammar I

A. Match the questions in column A with the answers in column B.

a. Are you ready?                                = ii. Yes, nearly.

b. Can I carry something for you?      = iv. No, it's OK. It's not that heavy.

c. May I use your phone?                    = i. Yes, it's on the chair.

d. Has anyone seen my bag?               = v. Yes, someone has.

e. Would you like to come to a party?= iii. Yes, I'd love to.

B. How do you ask questions in these situations?

a. You want to know if it is raining.

= Is it raining?

b. You want to know if Harish plays football.

= Does Harish play football?

c. You want to know if the bus is on time.

= Is the bus on time?

d. You want to know if your friend, Ramesh went to the market yesterday.

= Did Ramesh go to the market yesterday?

e. You want to know if it is Tuesday today.

= Is it Tuesday today?

f. You want to know if your teacher opened your letter.

= Did your teacher open your letter?

g. You want to know if your brother has gone to sleep.

= Has your brother gone to sleep?

h. You want to know if there will be a food party.

= Will there be a food party?

C. Circle the correct answer.

a. Are you busy today?

i. Yes, busy.                ii. Yes, I am.

b. Is it too hot in here for you?

i. No, it isn't.               ii. No, I'm fine, thanks.

c. Tell me, did you steal my money?

i. No. I won't               ii. No, I didn't steal your money.

d. Can I carry your bags?

i. No, you can't.           ii. It's all right, thanks.

D. Write yes/no questions for these statements.

a. The family has got three mobile phones.

b. Januka works at the supermarket.

c. Anita is learning English.

d. The meeting will be held next Tuesday.

e. Tanka switched off the computer.

f. He went to the cinema yesterday.

g. Everyone is ready.

h. It is raining outside.

i. Vicky's lost her credit card.

j. She'd done the work on time.

Answers:

a. Does the family have three mobile phones?

b. Does Januka work at the supermarket?

c. Is Anita learning English?

d. Will the meeting be held next Tuesday?

e. Did Tanka switch off the computer?

f. Did he go to the cinema yesterday?                                                                       

g. Is everyone ready?

h. Is it raining outside?

i. Has Vicky lost her credit card?

j. Had she done the work on time?