1 Current Affairs and Issues
How
Driverless Cars will Change our World
By Jenny Cusack 30th November, 2021
It's a late night in the Metro area of Phoenix, Arizona. Under
the artificial glare of street lamps, a car can be seen slowly approaching.
Active sensors on the vehicle radiate a low hum. A green and blue 'W' glows
from the windscreen, giving off just enough light to see inside - to a
completely empty driver seat.
The wheel navigates the curb, parking as an arrival notification
pings on the phone of the person waiting for it. When they open the door to
climb inside, a voice greets them over the vehicle's sound system. "Good
evening, this car is all yours - with no one upfront," it says.
This is a Waymo One robotaxi, hailed just 10 minutes ago using
an app. The open use of this service to the public, slowly expanding across the
US, is one of the many developments signaling that driverless technology is
truly becoming a part of our lives.
The promise of driverless technology has long been enticing. It
has the potential to transform our experience of commuting and long journeys,
take people out of high-risk working environments and streamline our
industries. It's key to helping us build the cities of the future, where our
reliance and relationship with cars are redefined - lowering carbon emissions
and paving the way for more sustainable ways of living. And it could make our
travel safer. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 1.3
million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes. "We want
safer roads and fewer fatalities. Automation ultimately could provide
that," says Camilla Fowler, head of automated transport for the UK's
Transport Research Laboratory (TRL).
But in order for driverless technology to become mainstream,
much still needs to change. "Driverless vehicles should be a very calm and
serene way of getting from A to B. But not every human driver around it will be
behaving in that way." says David Hynd, chief scientist for safety and
investigations at TRL.
"It's got to be able to cope with human drivers speeding,
for instance, or breaking the rules of the road. "And that's not the only
challenge. There's regulation, rethinking the Highway Code, public perception,
improving the infrastructure of our streets, towns, cities, and the big
question of ultimate liability for road accidents. "The whole insurance
industry is looking into how they're going to deal with that change from a
person being responsible and in charge to the vehicle doing that," says
Richard Jinks, vice president of commercial at Oxfordshire-based driverless
vehicle software company Oxbotica, which has been testing its technology in
cars and delivery vehicles at several locations across the UK and Europe.
The ultimate vision experts are working towards is of completely
driverless vehicles, both within industry, wider transport networks. and
personal-use cars, that can be deployed and used anywhere and everywhere around
the world.
But with all these hurdles in place, what exactly does the next
10 years have in store for autonomous vehicles?
Self-driving
vehicles are steadily becoming a reality despite the many hurdles still to
be overcome - and they could change our world in some unexpected ways.
The biggest hurdle for those in the driverless technology
industry
is how to get the cars to operate safely and effectively in
complex
and unpredictable human environments. Cracking this part of the
puzzle will be the major focus of the next two years.
At the Mcity Test Facility at the University of Michigan,
experts are addressing this. The world's first purpose-built testing ground for
autonomous vehicles, it is a mini-town of sorts, made up of 16 acres of road
and traffic infrastructure. It includes traffic signals and signs, underpasses,
building facades, tree cover.
home and garage exterior for testing delivery and ride-hailing,
and different terrains such as road, pedestrian walkways, railway tracks, and
road-markings which the vehicles must navigate. It is here that experts test
scenarios that even the most experienced of drivers may be pressed to handle,
from children playing in the street to two cars trying to merge on a junction at
the same time.
(Source: BBCFuture)
A. The following words have two different meanings. Match each
word with the meaning used in the context of the text above.
a. glare i. an angry or fierce stare
ii. an intense blinding light
b. curb i. a stone edging to a pavement
or raised path
ii. Something that checks or
restrains
c. hail i. to call to somebody in order
to attract their attention
ii. to describe somebody/something
as being very good or special
d. commute i. to replace a punishment with a
less severe one
ii. to travel regularly between
work place and home
e. serene i. calm and peaceful
ii. an expanse of clear sky or calm
sea
f. liability i. a person or thing that causes you
a lot of problems
ii.
the state of being legally responsible for something
g. deploy i.
to move soldiers or weapons into a position for an action
ii.
to use something effectively
h. autonomous i.
a vehicle that has the technology to drive itself
ii.
able to do things and make decisions without help from anyone else
i. perception i. a belief or an image about how
you see or understand something
ii. the ability to understand the true nature
of something.
B. Choose the correct alternatives to complete the sentences
below.
a. One of the features of automated cars is that
i. they wait for the passengers.
ii. they approach slowly.
iii. They have their own voice to welcome people into them.
b. Driverless technology is being widely used particularly in
......
i. the USA
ii. the UK
iii. the UAE
c. The positive impact of such technology on the environment
is..........
i. it prevents road accidents.
ii. it paves the way to sustainable life.
iii. it reduces carbon production.
d. One of the problems with driverless technology is
that...........
i. it cannot deal with traffic system.
ii. it cannot deal with human drivers.
iii. it cannot cope with other cars.
e. One of the biggest challenges of the automated cars is
i. its safety from the human environment
ii. human safety from it
iii. its durability in the human environment
f. The automated technology developed so far is........
i. completely trustworthy
ii. partly trustworthy
iii. not trustworthy
C. Answer the following questions.
a. Mention any three features of the driverless car.
= Three features of driverless cars mentioned in the text are:
i) Waymo One robotaxi:
It is a driverless taxi service that can be hailed using an app.
The car operates without a human driver and picks up passengers to transport
them to their destinations.
ii) Active sensors:
The driverless car is equipped with active sensors that emit
signals to detect and navigate the surroundings. These sensors help the car
perceive the environment and make decisions accordingly.
iii) Voice-based interaction:
The driverless car has a sound system through which it
communicates with passengers. It can greet passengers and provide information
or instructions regarding the ride.
b. Describe the benefits of driverless technology.
= The benefits of driverless technology mentioned in the text
are:
i) Transforming commuting and long journeys:
Driverless technology has the potential to revolutionize the way
people travel, making commuting and long journeys more convenient and
comfortable.
ii) Improved safety:
Automation in vehicles could potentially reduce the number of
road accidents and fatalities, making roads safer for everyone.
iii) Streamlining industries:
Driverless technology can optimize industries such as
transportation, logistics, and delivery by increasing efficiency and reducing
costs.
iv) Reducing carbon emissions:
With the adoption of driverless vehicles, there is a possibility
of lowering carbon emissions and promoting more sustainable ways of living.
v) Building cities of the future:
Driverless technology plays a crucial role in redefining our
relationship with cars and designing cities that are more efficient,
interconnected, and environmentally friendly.
c. What, according to Camilla Fowler, is the special advantage
of automated vehicles?
= According to Camilla Fowler, the special advantage of
automated vehicles is their potential to provide safer roads and reduce
fatalities. The World Health Organization estimates that over 1.3 million
people die each year due to road traffic crashes. With automation, there is a
possibility of minimizing human error, which is a significant contributing
factor to accidents, and ultimately creating safer roads.
d. What are the problems with driverless vehicles in David Hynd's
views?
= In David Hynd's views, the problems with driverless vehicles
are related to their ability to cope with unpredictable human drivers. While
driverless vehicles are designed to operate in a calm and serene manner, they
need to navigate around human drivers who may not follow traffic rules, speed,
or engage in other unsafe behaviors. Ensuring that driverless vehicles can
handle such scenarios and interact effectively with human drivers is a
challenge.
e. What are scientists doing to make driverless technology safer?
= Scientists are working on making driverless technology safer
by:
i) Testing and simulation:
They create dedicated testing facilities, like the Mcity Test
Facility mentioned in the text, where driverless vehicles can be tested in
complex and realistic environments. This helps in identifying and addressing
challenges before deploying the technology on public roads.
ii) Scenario-based training:
Researchers and engineers develop algorithms and machine
learning models that allow driverless vehicles to handle various scenarios,
including unpredictable human behavior. These models are trained using vast
amounts of data to improve the decision-making capabilities of the vehicles.
iii) Sensor and technology advancements:
Scientists continuously work on improving sensors, such as
lidar, radar, and cameras that enable driverless vehicles to perceive their
surroundings accurately. Advancements in artificial intelligence and machine
learning algorithms also contribute to enhancing the safety and efficiency of
driverless technology.
f. Do you think driverless technology is safer than human-
controlled driving? Why?
= The question of whether driverless technology is safer than
human-controlled driving is subjective and complex. While driverless technology
has the potential to minimize human errors and improve road safety, there are
still challenges to overcome, as mentioned in the text. Driverless vehicles
need to navigate around human drivers who may not always follow traffic rules,
which can introduce unpredictable elements. Additionally, the technology itself
is not entirely infallible, and there have been instances of accidents
involving driverless vehicles. Overall, achieving a high level of safety with
driverless technology requires addressing technological, regulatory, and
societal factors, and continuous advancements in the field
Grammar:
A. Match the following
statements with the correct reported speech and notice how the statements are
changed.
a. Khushi said, "I go to school every day by bus."
Answer: Khushi said that she went to school every day by bus.
b. Karma said to me, "I am sorry for coming late."
Answer: Karma apologized for coming late.
c. Susan says, "I will leave for Bhanu next week."
Answer: Susan says that she will leave for Bhanu the following
week.
d. Tshering said, "I will surely meet you this
Saturday."
Answer: Tshering promised me to meet that Saturday.
e. "The bus leaves at six," said the agent.
Answer: The agent informed us that the bus left at six.
f. "I have already finished my project work," said
She.
Answer: She said that she had already finished her project work.
g. "I work from home these days," said Yanjal.
Answer: Yanjal said that he worked from home those days.
B. Complete the following sentences with the correct reporting verbs.
advised informed admitted agreed warned
apologized offered promised thanked
a. "I broke the mirror." He............... that he had
broken the mirror.
= admitted
b. "I'd go and see a doctor if I were you," Pemba said
to me. Pemba………. me to see a doctor.
= advised
c. "I will send you out if you make a noise again,"
said the librarian. The librarian ......... me not to make a noise again.
= warned
d. "I can come and help you plant rice," said Raman.
Raman ...... to help me plant rice.
= offered
e. "The classes start from next week," said the
assistant. The assistant ......... us that the classes start from the following
week.
= informed
f. Sonam said to me, "Thank you so much for your
help." Sonam........... me for my help.
= thanked
g. "OK. I will return your money by Saturday," said
Prakriti. Prakriti.......... to return my money by Saturday.
= promised
h. "I will really work hard and score good grades,"
said Anupam. Anupam........ to work hard and get good grades.
= agreed
i. "I am sorry for coming late," said the speaker. The
speaker………..for coming late.
= apologized
Open Letter
to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
His Excellency Antonio Guterres
United Nations Secretary General
United Nations Secretariat
42nd Street,
New York, NY 10017
7 August 2020
RE: Inclusion of children in the Youth Advisory Group on
Climate Change
Your Excellency,
Congratulations on your recent announcement of seven
young climate leaders- between the ages of 18 and 28 years old - to your Youth
Advisory Group on climate change, who will advise you regularly on accelerating
global action and the action to tackle the worsening climate crisis. We
appreciate this important focus on bringing young leaders into decision-making
and planning processes related to climate action. We also welcome the emphasis you
place on receiving and giving frank and fearless advice, and the urgency of
holding government and corporate leaders to account on climate action.
We are disappointed, however, that you have not expanded
this list of young climate leaders to children in all their diversity. Millions
of children took part in school strikes for climate action in 2019 and early
2020 and demonstrated their outrage and constructive solutions in equal
measure. They have been agents of change in the climate debate using their channels
of influence-schools, social media, and street protest- to catalyze global
activism on the climate crisis. We have seen children from the global North to
the global South engaging with political and corporate leaders- in their home
countries and also within the international system-most recently at the UN
Human Rights Council-claiming their right to a safe, clean, healthy and
sustainable environment as critical foundation to realizing their wellbeing and
rights.
It was, after all, a child, Greta Thunberg, who sparked
this global movement through an inspiriting solo protest in 2018. By 2019. she
was able to rightly assert: "We proved that it does not matter what you do
and that no one is too small to make a difference." In 2020, children are
saying the same thing. Like Fabrizio, a 16 year old boy from Peru, who told us
on a recent child-led online conversation, "The Future of Children is at
stake now, tomorrow will be too late." Children like Fabrizio are vocal in
their anxiety that our dash to economic recovery will scupper climate change at
net- zero commitments. They continue to pressure on us all for urgency, and to
fight for a green recovery.
Once again, Secretary-General, we congratulate you on the
establishment of the Youth Advisory Group on climate change. We ask, however,
that it be inclusive of children and adolescents younger than 18; respecting
their right to be heard and to contribute their expertise directly. We also ask
that as preparations for COP26 advance, you call for the UK and Italy to give
children a safe space to influence these upcoming preparatory events. We would
of course be happy to support a process that facilitates meaningful engagement
with children across the globe on both your Group and COP26.
If the last two years have taught us anything it is that
children, armed with information and a sense of purpose, have a unique role to
play by participating in decision-making processes and in combating crises with
constructive solutions. Let us make sure that we learn and apply this lesson to
the planning process related to climate action.
Sincerely Yours,
Save the Children
Child Rights Connect
A. Fill in the blanks with the
correct words given below.
a. The corporate headquarters of the
company is in Dubai.
b. According to Greta, the leaders are failing to tackle the key
issues.
c. Some viruses catalyze the step in the production of other
viruses.
d. His expertise in business helped him greatly to run the
company.
e. Nepal government plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to net-zero.
f. He does not have good knowledge of business. So, he has put his investment at
stake.
g. His controversial remarks caused public outrage.
B. Write whether the following sentences are 'True' or
'False'. Write 'Not Given' if the information is not found in the letter.
a. Save the Children congratulates Antonio Guterres on
his recent appointment as the General Secretary of the UN.
= False
b. The Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change was
announced on the request of the children between 18-21 years of age.
= True
c. The dissatisfaction is that the representation of
children is not inclusive.
= True
d. Greta Thunberg protested for the right to a safe, clean,
healthy and sustainable environment.
= True
e. The children demand their physical safety in the UK
and Italy.
= Not given
f. The children think that they can participate in
decision making to fight against the climate crisis.
= True
C. Answer the following questions.
a. Where is the office of the UN Secretary General?
= The office of
the UN Secretary General is in New York, NY.
b. What is the purpose of writing this letter to Antonio
Guterres?
= The purpose of writing this letter to Antonio Guterres
is to express disappointment over the exclusion of children in the Youth
Advisory Group on Climate Change.
c. Why was the Youth Advisory Group announced?
= The Youth Advisory Group was announced to advise the
Secretary-General on accelerating global action and tackling the climate
crisis.
d. What roles have children played in the time of climate crisis?
= Children have played a role in the climate crisis by
participating in school strikes, protests, and advocating for climate action.
e. Describe Greta Thuberg and Fabrizio's contributions.
= Greta Thunberg sparked the global movement, and
Fabrizio, a 16-year-old boy from Peru, expressed the urgency of addressing
climate change.
f. What is the final demand of the children?
= The final demand of the children is to be included and
heard in decision-making processes and planning related to climate action.
Grammar II
A. Choose the correct alternative to complete the
sentences:
a. Abhilasha said that she…...... the accident. (witnessed, has witnessed, was
witnessed)
b. The teacher explained that…………..(the earth revolves
round the sun, the earth revolved round the sun, revolve round the sun).
C. Smarika says that ………....(she could not stay there
anymore, I can't stay here anymore, she can't stay here anymore).
d. Sachita says that ………...(she loves to listen to music,
she loved to listen to music, I love to listen to music).
e. My brother reported that....... he had completed his
homework, I have completed my homework, he has done his homework).
f. My father said that the sun very hot.
..................( is, are, was)
g. Jenifer said that she …….......(want, wants, wanted)
to be a nurse.
Answers:
a. Abhilasha said that she witnessed the
accident.
b. The teacher explained that the earth revolves round the sun.
c. Smarika says that she can't stay here anymore.
d. Sachita says that she loves to listen to music.
e. My brother reported that he had completed his homework.
f. My father said that the sun is very hot.
g. Jennifer said that she wanted to be a nurse.
B. Rewrite the following sentences in indirect speech.
a. Raima said, "We had to cross the river and go ahead."
= Raima said that they had to cross the river and go
ahead.
b. Smarika said, "I will meet you tomorrow,
friends."
= Smarika said that she would meet her friends tomorrow.
c. "I can't come to school tomorrow," Chandani
said.
= Chandani said that she couldn't come to school
tomorrow.
d. Dorje said, "Sorry, I cannot lend you any money
today."
= Dorje said that he couldn't lend any money today.
e. The teacher said. "Now, you can solve the
remaining problems yourselves."
= The teacher said that we could solve the remaining
problems ourselves.
f. The police said. "The incident probably took
place yesterday."
= The police said that the incident had probably taken
place yesterday.
g. I said to him, "I live in Changunarayan these
days."
= I told him that I lived in Changunarayan these days.
h. They said to us, "We would like to join you
too."
= They told us that they would like to join us too.
i. The Science teacher said, "The coal gives off
thick smoke."
= The Science teacher said that coal gives off thick
smoke.
j. Resham said, "I have never seen such a strange
animal anywhere else."
= Resham said that she had never seen such a strange
animal anywhere else.
k. "I love my children more than wealth," the father said.
= The father said that he loved his children more than
wealth
2 Festivals and Celebrations
Battle
of Oranges
All I can see is a flash of orange, then I am hit in the chest.
It knocks my breath away. I slide backwards, fall bum-first in a pile of orange
mush. What the heck! I touch my head: my red hat is still there.
During the carnival, official public notices are plastered on
the walls around Ivrea, ordering people, especially tourists, to wear a red
hat. Or else they can be considered a 'fair target for gentle and moderate
orange-throwing'.
The red hat people are ordered to wear is not just any hat. The
berretto frigio, a sock-shaped hat sold on every street corner, is the symbol
of the carnival itself. It is a symbol of freedom; worn in Roman times by freed
slaves. During the Middle Ages it was on the heads of peasants rioting against
feudal lords.
Back on my feet, I make sure my hat is on, and visible. I want
to get another look, but soon I am hit again on my forehead. My head jerks
back, I wipe my face, oh my goodness, it's blood! I am going to need stitches,
maybe it's a concussion!
Then I remember blood oranges.
Shivering from the quick succession of shock and relief, I
retreat to the back of the square, away from any flying fruit. This is the
first of three yearly battles; everybody is fresh and excited from a year-long
wait. Nine teams of aranceri (orange-throwers) on foot, wearing uniforms, hurl
oranges at their opponents on horse-drawn carriages, clad in Doctor Whoesque
costumes with padded shoulders and leather-covered cylindrical helmets. An hour
into the battle, the square is covered in a thick sludge, mixture of orange
pulp and horse manure. It smells sharp, sweet-and-sour.
Aranceri on foot rush back and forth, to the sides of the square
stacked with orange crates, filling their shoulder bags and baggy tops. As soon
as a cart approaches, they charge, bombarding it with oranges.
Horses halt, for a few minutes; oranges explode, then the cart
takes off again, the aranceri chase it for a while, hurling the last of their
supplies. They wear no protection, and walk around with their hair caked in
orange bits, juice running down their faces. Some have broken noses, some
clutch a side of their face, arms or ribs. They hold their heads high, shouting
their team's war cries.
"This is the moment we wait for all the year," says
Silvia, holding an orange cut in half on her right eye. "I'll be happy to
have a black eye tomorrow."
She sits with me, sipping a glass of mulled wine. "I think
carnival is good for our psychological health. During these three days I can
let it all out, all the frustrations I have built up during the year.
Afterwards I feel refreshed. Of course, accidents happen" she adds,
pushing the orange on her swollen eye, "but you should try, it's good for
you".
I am curious to know what it feels, I admit. I keep thinking I
am wearing a hat, and the public are not supposed to join in the battle. Even
so, that doesn't seem to stop hat-wearers from throwing the occasional orange.
To prevent further trouble, volunteers advise the public to stay behind
protective nets.
"Forget the nets" says Massi, an arancere of the Morte
team, with a gigantic skull on the back of his orange-stained uniform, "if
you want to live the carnival, you have to be in the middle of the
battle."
"Aren't you afraid of getting hurt?"
Massi laughs. "If you compare the risk to the rush you get,
a black eye is a small price to pay."
He fills his top with oranges. A cart is approaching. "Come
on, throw your red hat away and come with me".
I am tempted, but I decline.
-
Margherita
A. Match the words
with their meaning.
a. mush i. to throw something
violently in a particular direction
b. jerk ii. to hold something
tightly
c. concussion iii. a soft thick mass or mixture
d. hurl iv. to drink something,
taking a very small amount each time
e. pulp v. to make something
move with a sudden short sharp movement
f. clutch vi. a temporary loss of
consciousness
g. sip vii. the soft part
inside the fruits and vegetables
Answer:
a. mush - iii. a soft
thick mass or mixture
b. jerk - v. to make
something move with a sudden short sharp movement
c. concussion - vi. a
temporary loss of consciousness
d. hurl - i. to throw
something violently in a particular direction
e. pulp - vii. the
soft part inside the fruits and vegetables
f. clutch - ii. to
hold something tightly
g. sip - iv. to drink
something, taking a very small amount each time
B. Write 'True' for
true statements and 'False' for false ones.
a. The tourists are
informed to wear a red hat through public notices. True
b. Aranceri seems
dressed in Doctor Whoesque costumes. True
c. When a cart
approaches, aranceri run away from the square. False
d. The narrator feels
bored during the festival period. False
e. The volunteers
encourage the visitors to join the battle. True
f. The narrator
accepts Massi's offer. False
C. Answer the
following questions.
a. What does the red
hat symbolize?
= The red hat
symbolizes freedom and is a symbol of the carnival itself.
b. How does the
narrator feel when she wipes her face?
= The narrator feels
shocked when she wipes her face.
c. What does the
square look like after an hour- battle of the oranges?
= After an hour of the
battle of the oranges, the square is covered in a thick sludge, a mixture of
orange pulp and horse manure.
d. How do aranceri
members chase the cart?
= Aranceri members
chase the cart by running after it and hurling the last of their supplies.
e. Does Silvia enjoy
this carnival? Why?
= Yes, Silvia enjoys
the carnival because it allows her to release frustrations and feel refreshed
afterward.
f. Why does Massi say,
"Forget the nets"?
= Massi says,
"Forget the nets" because he believes that to truly experience the
carnival, one must be in the middle of the battle.
Grammar I
A. Change the
following sentences into indirect speech. The beginning of each sentence is
given.
a. "Are you
working tonight?"
Agaman asked Timothy if
he was working that night.
b. "Is this the
road to the station?"
A stranger wanted to
know from me if that was the road to the station.
c. "Did you do
your homework?"
My friend inquired her
if she had done her homework.
d. "Have you been
to Paris?"
The tourist was asked
if he had been to Paris.
e. "How long have
you been working in this company?"
Usha inquired of Anju how
long she had been working in that company.
f. "What flavour
ice cream did you have at the party?"
My mother asked me what
flavor ice cream I had at the party.
g. "Have you
studied reported speech before?"
The teacher wanted to
know if they had studied reported speech before.
h. "Where will
you stay tonight?"
I asked him where
he would stay that night.
i. "How many
players were shown yellow card by the referee?"
Sumangal asked his
friend how many players were shown yellow cards by the referee.
j. "What magic
did the medicine have on the patient?"
Sarita wanted to know
from Sommaya what magic the medicine had on the patient.
B. Change the
following remarks into reported speech.
a. Kritika asked me,
"Why did you go out last night?"
= Kritika asked me why
I had gone out last night.
b. "Who was that
beautiful woman, Usha?" said Sunita.
= Sunita said that she
asked Usha who that beautiful woman was.
c. "How is your
mother?" said Gaurab to Yang Dolma.
= Gaurab said to Yang
Dolma how her mother was.
d. My friend wanted to
know, "What are you going to do at the weekend?"
= My friend wanted to
know what I was going to do at the weekend.
e. "Where will
you live after graduation?" said my teacher.
= My teacher asked
where I would live after graduation.
f. Anusha said to
Melisha, "What were you doing when I saw you?"
= Anusha said to
Melisha what she had been doing when she saw her.
g. I said to the
pilgrim, "How was the journey?"
= I said to the
pilgrim how the journey had been.
h. "How often do
you go to cinema?" said Krishna.
= Krishna asked how
often I went to the cinema.
i. "Do you live
in Patan?" said the Principal.
= The Principal asked
if I lived in Patan.
j. Niraj said to
Luniva, "Did Phadindra arrive on time?"
= Niraj asked Luniva
if Phadindra had arrived on time
Thanks giving around the World
Festivals are not just the means of entertainment or rejoice.
They also reflect our heritage, culture and traditions. Thanksgiving is
celebrated around the world to extend thanks for the harvest, enjoying bountiful
food, and spending time with family and friends. Even though Thanksgiving seems
to be uniquely American, the tradition is followed in different countries in
various forms.
Thanksgiving, USA
Celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, Thanksgiving in
the USA is a national holiday that commemorates the feast the Pilgrims held
after the first harvest in 1621. The first celebration was attended by 90
Native Americans and 53 pilgrims. Thanksgiving has been celebrated
intermittently ever since.
Thanksgiving dinner with family plays a central role in the
celebrations, with Americans eating more food on Thanksgiving Day than any
other day of the year, including Christmas. Roast turkey is essential -
approximately 45 million of them are consumed every year as well as mashed
potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet corn and assorted fall vegetables, all food
that is native to the Americans.
Parades are a big part of the celebrations too. They range from
small town affairs featuring the local marching band to Macy's Thanksgiving
parade through the streets of New York. Billed as the world's largest parade,
it features parade floats and huge balloons, usually based on cartoon
characters, current Broadway shows and other topical themes.
Chuseok, South Korea
Chuseok, also called Hangnail, is a Korean festive holiday
celebrated on the 15th day of August, according to the lunar calendar. The
festival is celebrated to commemorate the fall harvest and to honour one's
ancestors. Similar to Thanksgiving Day in the USA, the Harvest Moon Festival,
as it is also known, is one of the most popular holidays in Korea.
Traditionally, Koreans return to their ancestral hometowns to celebrate with
their families.
The festival day begins with a ceremony in which food and wine
are offered to ancestors. This is followed by a meal that typically consists of
fish and newly harvested vegetables and grains. The food most associated with
the holiday is songpyon, a crescent-shaped rice cake that is cooked on a bed of
pine needles. Later in the day, celebrants visit the graves of relatives, where
more ceremonies are performed. Chuseok is also marked by gift giving and
athletic events, including tug-of- war competitions, archery contests, and
sirrum, Korean wrestling matches. Other activities include dancing and music
playing. On this day, many Koreans wear hanbok, the traditional clothing.
Dia de Acao de Gracas, Brazil
In Brazil, Thanksgiving is a relatively new festival - but it's
celebrated with great gusto. It is said that when the former Brazilian President,
Gaspar Dutra visited the USA, he was fascinated with the holiday and
established the festival in his home country in 1949.
Dia de Acao de Gracas begins with the mass to offer thanks for
an abundant harvest - then there is a vibrant carnival and revellers head to
the beach, Peru. Roasted turkey is still the centrepiece of the Brazilian
Thanksgiving feast, but there are a few exotic twists. Cranberries do not grow
in Brazil, so a sauce made of Jaboticaba, known as the 'Brazilian grape', is
whipped up to spread on the bird.
Thanksgiving, Liberia
Liberian Thanksgiving is a vibrant and spicy affair. Founded in
the 19th century by liberated American slaves, the festival gives thanks for
freedom. Liberians celebrate the good things in life, while also marking their
troubled past.
After a church service, families gather for a spread of roasted
chicken, traditional green bean casserole and mashed cassava - all liberally
doused with spices, of course. The Thanksgiving feast is topped off with an
evening of dancing, singing and celebration.
Crop Over, Barbados
The celebration of Crop Over is Barbados's biggest party. The
festival spreads over a length of 12 weeks, from May until August, when it
culminates in the massive finale: the Grand Kadooment.
Originally a celebration of the sugar cane harvest, Crop Over
has been celebrated since the 1780s when Barbados was the world's largest
produce of the sweet-stuff. Carnivals pervade the lengthy celebrations, and
calypso bands and dancers compete in ever grander and more flamboyant displays.
Homowo, Ghana
The Homowo festival, meaning to jeer or hoot at hunger in Ghana
historically celebrates the ending of a long famine suffered by the Ghanaians.
What could be better to celebrate the end of shortage than a feast? Palm nut
soup with fish is served alongside traditional Kpokoi, a kind of grits made
from unleavened corn dough and palm oil.
Starting in May with the sowing of millet, the festival takes
place through August and September after a ban on drumming and singing that is
meant to encourage proper care of the crops. The festival culminates in a night
of singing and dancing and frantic beating of drums in loud defiance of hunger
and famine.
Mehregan, Iran
A festival that dates back at least to the 4th century BC,
Mehregan in Iran is held on the 196th day of the Iranian year. The festival
celebrates a successful harvest and the goddess Mehr.
The celebration calls for new clothes, community blessings and a
feast on a table decorated with marjoram. The spread includes sherbert drinks
and lavish dinners; in some villages, a sheep is sacrificed and slow- roasted
throughout the day.
Revellers rub kohl around their eyes as a good omen, and throw
handfuls of marjoram, lotus and sugar plum seeds over each other.
A. The meanings of some of the words from the text are given
below. Find the words and write against the correct meanings.
a. in a way occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or
steady………
= Intermittently
b. to remind people of an important event or person from the
past………..
= Commemorate
c. in a way that shows the usual qualities or features of a
particular type of person or thing.........
= Typically
d. a curved shape that is wide in the middle and pointed at each
end…………
= Crescent-shaped
e. full of life and energy………….
= Vibrant
f. a person who is having fun in a noisy way, usually with a
group of other people………
= Revellers
g. from or in another country; seeming exciting and unusual………
= Exotic
h. to spread through and be easy to notice…………
= Pervade
i. brightly coloured and likely to attract attention...........
= Flamboyant
j. done quickly and with a lot of activity, but not very well
organized………….
= Frantic
B. The following events represent different activities observed
during Thanksgiving around the world. Study them carefully and write the names
of countries where they are celebrated.
a. Families gather for a feast in the evening accompanied by
dancing and singing.
= Liberia
b. People wear new clothes and get community blessings.
= Iran
c. Palm nut soup, fish and traditional Kpokoi are served.
= Ghana
d. People return to their hometowns to celebrate the festival.
= South Korea
e. Celebrants go to the beach in a noisy way.
= Brazil
f. Parades are taken out in the streets.
= USA
g. Food and wine are offered to the forefathers.
= South Korea
C. Answer the following questions.
a. What is the main feature of American Thanksgiving?
- Thanksgiving dinner with family.
b. What do parades include in Thanksgiving in America?
- Parade includes floats and huge balloons
based on various themes.
c. When and why is Chuseok celebrated in Korea?
- Chuseok is celebrated on the 15th day of
August (according to the lunar calendar) to commemorate the fall harvest and
honor one's ancestors.
d. How did Thanksgiving begin in Brazil?
- It began when the former Brazilian
President, Gaspar Dutra, visited the USA and was inspired by the holiday. He
established Thanksgiving in Brazil in 1949.
e. Who started Thanksgiving in Liberia?
- Thanksgiving in Liberia was started by
liberated American slaves in the 19th century.
f. Why was it started? What is Thanksgiving celebrated in
Barbados for?
- Thanksgiving in Barbados, known as Crop
Over, was originally a celebration of the sugar cane harvest when Barbados was
the world's largest producer of sugar.
g. What is Homowo marked in Ghana?
- Homowo in Ghana marks the celebration of
the end of a long famine and is a feast to jeer at hunger.
Grammar II
A. Rewrite the following sentences choosing the correct
alternative from brackets.
a. Sujita asked her mother.......(when her father would come home,
when will her father come home, when might her father come home).
b. She replied that she had never had caviar when I said to her,
" ....caviar?" (Have you ever had, Will you have, Would you have)
c. The salesperson said to him, "What...........for
you?" (I can do, can I do, I could do)
d. The tourist inquired from me........to Banepa. (whether I
belonged, whether I would belong, whether I am belonging)
e. The little girl asked us what time.....to come back. (were we
supposed, we were supposed, we had been supposed)
f. The head teacher asked her ........ the exam form the week before.
(whether she had filled out, whether she fills out, whether had she filled out)
g. Renuka asked me.........her. (if I have called, if I had
called, if had I called)
a. Sujita asked her mother
when her father would come home.
b. She replied that she
had never had caviar when I said to her, "Have you ever had caviar?"
c. The salesperson said to
him, "What can I do for you?"
d. The tourist inquired
from me whether I belonged to Banepa.
e. The little girl asked
us what time we were supposed to come back.
f. The head teacher asked
her whether she had filled out the exam form the week before.
g. Renuka asked me if I
had called her.
B. Nihar Chaudhary interviewed her Social Studies teacher last
week. Here is the report prepared by her after the interview. Read it carefully
and list out direct questions asked by Nihar.
Today, I got an opportunity to interview Mr. Sudeep Prasad
Joshi, our Social Studies teacher about a Newari tradition known as Thi. Here
is a brief report of the information imparted to me.
Mr. Joshi stated that Ihi is a Newari ceremony in which pre-
adolescent girls are married to the Suvarna Kumar, a symbol of god Vishnu. I
asked him why it was done. He said that it is done to ensure that the girl
becomes and remains fertile. It was started to escape the Sati tradition.
According to the tradition,when a girl was married to Vishnu, she would not be
a widow even after the death of her mortal husband. He added that it is
performed to the girls between the ages five to nine. It is known as Bel Bibaha
(Ihi)because when a girl was married to Lord Vishnu, bel (wood apple) fruit was
given as a witness. Mr. Joshi explained why this particular fruit chosen was
because of its peculiar quality of not getting rotten. Because of this
property. bel is considered as Divya Purusha or incarnation of the god. He said
that the ritual goes on for two consecutive days, which is tiring for the girl
and her parents. During the ceremony, those participating could not eat certain
foods or drinks, especially those with salt.
Answers:
Direct
questions asked by Nihar during the interview:
1.
Why is the Ihi ceremony performed?
2.
What is the age range for girls to participate in the ceremony?
3.
Why is it known as Bel Bibaha (Ihi)?
4.
Why was the wood apple fruit chosen as a witness?
5.
How long does the ritual last?
6.
What are the restrictions on food and drinks during the ceremony?
3. Health and Wellness
A Letter from a Patient
Dear health care worker,
I recently experienced a parent's worst nightmare दु:स्वप्न. One evening my nine-week old baby developed an extremely अत्यन्तै high fever. We rushed to our local community hospital and were
admitted through the emergency department आपतकालिन विभाग to the pediatric बाल चिकित्सा unit. We were discharged three days later. Thanks to the
skilled doctors and nurses who cared for our precious बहुमुल्य little one. While our infant's care and health outcomes were
fantastic, our experience was less than satisfactory.
During my hospital stay, many staff took the opportunity अवसर to bad-mouth their colleagues सहकर्मीहरु to me when we were alone. I am not sure if this occurred
because I looked rather trust-worthy or they wanted to let me know they were
more competent सक्षम
than their colleagues.
The emergency nurses complained about the doctors' orders and the delay in
response of the pediatric nurses. The pediatric nurses complained about the
emergency room nurses' inability to get an intravenous line. The pediatrician
complained about orders made by the emergency doctor. Once admitted, our
pediatric nurse complained about the pediatricians' approach to the care of my
baby. Then the pediatrician
बालरोग विशेषज्ञ
complained about the pediatric nurse's lack of ability to obtain a urine sample नमुना
At every opportunity the parent in me wanted to scream at the
top of my lungs "Can stop complaining about each other and look after my
sick baby?" From my vantage point सुविधाजनक बिन्दु, it seemed that everyone was so focused on their own needs and
skills that they appeared completely insensible that there was a sick baby that
needed their help. In fact, it was downright disappointing एकदम निराशाजनक. This did nothing other than state to me that egos अंहकार were taking priority प्राथमिकता over my daughter's care. I cannot tell you how many times
nurses told me, "I am so busy today." I am not sure if they were
telling me to excuse the fact that my daughter's medications औषधीहरु were not on time or maybe they were simply looking for support.
Every time I heard this statement my head played my own version that sounded
more like "your daughter is not a priority."
Do not use patients or their families as your personal confidante विश्वासपात्र. I was in that hospital room to care for my infant and see her
condition improve, not to hear that staff were not equipped to see this goal
through. Patients and their families need to know they are your priority and your job
is to care for them in an effort to restore health. Please take time to tell
them this, share positive news with them as if you are happy too, because I
know you are.
Use the chart, read it, write on it and refer to it. After all,
this is where everything that happens should be documented. At every
interaction with a physician and their students I was asked the same questions
"Was she premature?" and "Was your delivery normal?" I
answered these questions the same each time, surely someone wrote this down in
our chart.
The majority of health care workers that approached my daughter
referred to her as male. I would politely correct them with her or she. My
daughter spent her time in hospital wearing only a diaper. Despite no obvious
gender indicator, surely somewhere in my paperwork it indicated that she was
female. As sleep deprivation अभाव and stress took their toll I wondered what
other mistakes may exist on my baby's paperwork. Please be careful of what you
say to patients and how you say it. When you are caught on such a slip up, be
genuine in your apology and make a sincere effort to refrain from repeating the
same mistake next time. Patients and their families need to know that you are
listening and that you care about what it is they are saying. The gender error
is one that left me with a sense of sloppiness and lack of focus on behalf of
all who made this innocent mistake.
I am a health care worker just like you. People trust us to take
care of their most precious loved ones in their most vulnerable states. This is
our job and we do it with pride, but how we treat each other is dreadful डरलाग्दो
Patients know that healthcare is not a glamorous career choice. They know that
most of us do it because we want to help sick people get well. Do your best to
confirm this belief when people are in your care. I am not innocent of uttering
some of these statements above. However, I can assure you that I will be more
conscious of what I say to patients and their families after my daughter's
hospital stay.
Fellow health care workers, choose to interact with your
patients in a way that instills confidence in yourself and your fellow team
members. You alone have the power to positively shape the patient's experience.
Yours truly,
An appreciative mother
(Adapted from https://hospitalnews.com/a-letter-from-a-patient/)
एक बिरामीको पत्र
प्रिय स्वास्थ्यकर्मी,
मैले भर्खरै आमाबाबुको सबैभन्दा
खराब सपना अनुभव गरें। एक साँझ मेरो नौ हप्ताको बच्चालाई असाध्यै उच्च ज्वरो आयो।
हामी हतारमा हाम्रो स्थानीय सामुदायिक अस्पतालमा गयौं र आपातकालीन विभाग मार्फत
बाल चिकित्सा इकाईमा भर्ना गरियो। हामी तीन दिन पछि डिस्चार्ज भयौं। हाम्रो
बहुमूल्य सानो बच्चाको हेरचाह गर्ने दक्ष डाक्टर र नर्सहरूलाई धन्यवाद। जबकि
हाम्रो शिशुको हेरचाह र स्वास्थ्य परिणामहरू शानदार थिए, हाम्रो अनुभव सन्तोषजनक भन्दा कम थियो।
मेरो अस्पताल बसाइको समयमा, धेरै कर्मचारीहरूले हामी एक्लै हुँदा आफ्ना सहकर्मीहरूलाई गाली
गर्ने मौका लिए। म पक्का छैन कि यो भयो किनकी म बरु भरोसेमंद देखिन्थ्यो वा
तिनीहरूले मलाई थाहा दिन चाहन्थे कि तिनीहरू आफ्ना सहकर्मीहरू भन्दा बढी सक्षम
थिए। आकस्मिक नर्सहरूले डाक्टरको आदेश र बाल नर्सहरूले जवाफ दिन ढिलाइ भएको गुनासो
गरे। बालरोग नर्सहरूले आकस्मिक कक्षका नर्सहरूले इन्ट्राभेनस लाइन लिन नसक्ने
गुनासो गरे। बाल रोग विशेषज्ञले आकस्मिक डाक्टरले गरेको आदेशको बारेमा गुनासो गरे।
भर्ना भएपछि, हाम्रो बाल चिकित्सा नर्सले मेरो
बच्चाको हेरचाह गर्न बाल रोग विशेषज्ञहरूको दृष्टिकोणको बारेमा गुनासो गरे।
त्यसपछि बाल रोग विशेषज्ञले पिडियाट्रिक नर्सको पिसाबको नमूना लिन सक्ने क्षमता
नभएको गुनासो गरे।
हरेक अवसरमा म भित्रका अभिभावक मेरो
फोक्सोको शीर्षमा चिच्याउन चाहन्थे "के एक अर्काको बारेमा गुनासो गर्न रोक्न
र मेरो बिरामी बच्चाको हेरचाह गर्न सक्नुहुन्छ?" मेरो सहूलियत बिन्दुबाट, यस्तो लाग्थ्यो कि सबैजना आफ्नै आवश्यकता र सीपहरूमा यति केन्द्रित
थिए कि तिनीहरू पूर्णतया असंवेदनशील देखिन्थे कि त्यहाँ बिरामी बच्चा थियो जसलाई
उनीहरूको मद्दत चाहिन्छ। वास्तवमा, यो एकदम निराशाजनक थियो। यसले मेरो छोरीको हेरचाहमा अहंकारले
प्राथमिकता लिइरहेको थियो भन्ने कुरा मलाई राज्य बाहेक अरू केही गरेन। म तिमीलाई
बताउन सक्दिन कि नर्सहरूले मलाई कति पटक भने, "म आज धेरै व्यस्त छु।" मेरो छोरीको औषधि समयमै नपाएको भन्दै
उनीहरूले मलाई माफी दिन भन्दै थिए वा हुनसक्छ उनीहरूले सहयोग खोजिरहेका थिए भन्ने
कुरामा म पक्का छैन। प्रत्येक चोटि मैले यो कथन सुनेपछि मेरो टाउकोले मेरो आफ्नै
संस्करण बजाउँछ जुन "तपाईँकी छोरीलाई प्राथमिकता छैन" जस्तो लाग्थ्यो।
बिरामी वा तिनीहरूका परिवारलाई
आफ्नो व्यक्तिगत विश्वासपात्रको रूपमा प्रयोग नगर्नुहोस्। म मेरो शिशुको हेरचाह
गर्न र उनको अवस्था सुधारिएको हेर्नको लागि अस्पतालको कोठामा थिएँ, कर्मचारीहरू यो लक्ष्य पूरा गर्न सुसज्जित थिएनन् भन्ने सुन्न
थिएन। बिरामीहरू र तिनीहरूका परिवारहरूलाई थाहा हुनुपर्छ कि तिनीहरू तपाईं हुन्
प्राथमिकता र तपाईंको काम स्वास्थ्य
पुनर्स्थापना गर्ने प्रयासमा उनीहरूको हेरचाह गर्नु हो। कृपया तिनीहरूलाई यो
बताउनको लागि समय लिनुहोस्, तिनीहरूसँग सकारात्मक समाचार साझा
गर्नुहोस् मानौं तपाईं पनि खुसी हुनुहुन्छ, किनकि मलाई थाहा छ तपाईं हुनुहुन्छ।
बिरामी वा तिनीहरूका परिवारलाई आफ्नो व्यक्तिगत विश्वासपात्रको रूपमा प्रयोग नगर्नुहोस्। म मेरो शिशुको हेरचाह गर्न र उनको अवस्था सुधारिएको हेर्नको लागि अस्पतालको कोठामा थिएँ, कर्मचारीहरू यो लक्ष्य पूरा गर्न सुसज्जित थिएनन् भन्ने सुन्न थिएन। बिरामीहरू र तिनीहरूका परिवारहरूलाई थाहा हुनुपर्छ कि तिनीहरू तपाईं हुन्
प्राथमिकता र तपाईंको काम स्वास्थ्य पुनर्स्थापना गर्ने प्रयासमा उनीहरूको हेरचाह गर्नु हो। कृपया तिनीहरूलाई यो बताउनको लागि समय लिनुहोस्, तिनीहरूसँग सकारात्मक समाचार साझा गर्नुहोस् मानौं तपाईं पनि खुसी हुनुहुन्छ, किनकि मलाई थाहा छ तपाईं हुनुहुन्छ।
चार्ट प्रयोग गर्नुहोस्, यसलाई पढ्नुहोस्, यसमा लेख्नुहोस् र यसलाई सन्दर्भ गर्नुहोस्। आखिर, यो हो जहाँ सबै कुरा दस्तावेज हुनुपर्छ। एक चिकित्सक र उनीहरूका विद्यार्थीहरूसँगको प्रत्येक अन्तरक्रियामा मलाई एउटै प्रश्नहरू सोधियो "के उनी समयपूर्व थिइन्?" र "तपाईको डेलिभरी सामान्य थियो?" मैले यी प्रश्नहरूको जवाफ प्रत्येक पटक उस्तै दिएँ, पक्कै कसैले यो हाम्रो चार्टमा लेख्यो।
मेरी छोरीलाई सम्पर्क गर्ने अधिकांश स्वास्थ्यकर्मीहरूले उनलाई पुरुष भनेर उल्लेख गरे। म तिनीहरूलाई विनम्रतापूर्वक उहाँ वा उनीसँग सच्याउनेछु। मेरी छोरीले अस्पतालमा आफ्नो समय डायपर लगाएर बिताइन्। कुनै स्पष्ट लिंग सूचक नभए पनि, पक्कै पनि मेरो कागजी कार्यमा कतै यसले उनी महिला थिइन भनेर संकेत गर्यो। निद्राको अभाव र तनावले उनीहरूको टोल लिँदा मैले मेरो बच्चाको कागजी कार्यमा अन्य गल्तीहरू के हुन सक्छ भनेर सोचें। कृपया बिरामीहरूलाई के भन्नुहुन्छ र कसरी भन्नुहुन्छ भन्ने कुरामा ध्यान दिनुहोस्। जब तपाई यस्तो गल्तीमा समात्नु हुन्छ, तपाईको माफीमा साँचो हुनुहोस् र अर्को पटक उही गल्ती दोहोर्याउनबाट जोगिने इमान्दार प्रयास गर्नुहोस्। बिरामीहरू र तिनीहरूका परिवारहरूले तपाईंले सुनिरहनुभएको छ र तिनीहरूले के भनिरहेका छन् भनी तपाईंले ख्याल राख्नुहुन्छ भनेर जान्न आवश्यक छ। यो निर्दोष गल्ती गर्ने सबैको तर्फबाट मलाई अल्छीपन र फोकसको कमीको भावनाको साथ लैङ्गिक त्रुटि हो।
म पनि तपाई जस्तै स्वास्थ्यकर्मी हुँ। मानिसहरूले हामीलाई उनीहरूको सबैभन्दा कमजोर अवस्थाहरूमा सबैभन्दा बहुमूल्य प्रियजनहरूको हेरचाह गर्न विश्वास गर्छन्। यो हाम्रो काम हो र हामी गर्वका साथ गर्छौं, तर हामी एकअर्कालाई कस्तो व्यवहार गर्छौं त्यो डरलाग्दो छ। बिरामीहरूलाई थाहा छ कि स्वास्थ्य सेवा ग्लैमरस क्यारियर छनौट होइन। उनीहरूलाई थाहा छ कि हामी मध्ये धेरैले यो गर्छौं किनभने हामी बिरामीहरूलाई निको हुन मद्दत गर्न चाहन्छौं। मानिसहरू तपाईंको हेरचाहमा हुँदा यो विश्वास पुष्टि गर्न सक्दो प्रयास गर्नुहोस्। म माथिका यी कथनहरू मध्ये केही बोल्नमा निर्दोष छैन। यद्यपि, म आश्वस्त हुन सक्छु कि मेरी छोरीको अस्पतालमा बसेपछि बिरामी र उनीहरूका परिवारलाई मैले भनेको कुरामा म अझ सचेत हुनेछु।
सँगी स्वास्थ्य हेरचाहकर्मीहरू, तपाईंका बिरामीहरूसँग आफू र तपाईंको सँगी टोलीका सदस्यहरूमा विश्वास जगाउने तरिकामा अन्तरक्रिया गर्ने छनौट गर्नुहोस्। तपाईंसँग मात्र बिरामीको अनुभवलाई सकारात्मक रूपमा आकार दिने शक्ति छ।
साँच्चै तिम्रो,
एक कृतज्ञ आमा
A. Match the words in column A with their meanings in column B.
a.
nightmare vii.
very bad or unpleasant
b.
pediatric iv.
relating to the medical care of children
c.
intravenous into or connected to a vein
d.
priority ii. a thing that is regarded as more important
than others
e.
medications i.
treatment using drugs
f.
confidante ix.
a person with whom private matters and problems are discussed
g.
vulnerability vi.
in need of special care, support, or protection
h.
deprivation viii.
the lack of something considered to be a necessity
i.
dreadful iii.
causing great fear or suffering
B.
Write True for true and False for false statements.
a. The sender of the letter was happy with the service of the
health workers.
= False
b. The staff of different departments in the hospital had harmonious
relationships with each other.
= False
c. The hospital staff were concerned with the
requirements of the sick child.
= False
d. The staff of the hospital shared their personal feelings with
the writer.
= True
e. The chart was unclear about the patient's gender.
=True
f. The author took the mistakes of the health workers normally.
= True
g. The writer seems to be more sincere in her duty than the
hospital staff.
= False
C. Answer the following questions.
a. What was the nightmare for the author?
= The nightmare for the author was the
experience of her nine-week old baby developing an extremely high fever.
b. What do you think the main purpose of this letter is?
= The main purpose of this letter is
to express the author's appreciation for the skilled doctors and nurses who
cared for her baby, but also to highlight the dissatisfaction with the staff's
behavior and lack of focus on patient care.
c. According to the author, what was the main weakness of the
hospital staff?
= According to the author, the main
weakness of the hospital staff was their tendency to bad-mouth their colleagues
and prioritize their own needs and skills over the well-being of the patients.
d. Did the nurses really say "your daughter is not a
priority"? Why did the author think so?
= The nurses did not directly say
"your daughter is not a priority." The author inferred this based on
their repeated statements of being busy and the delays in medication
administration and other aspects of care.
e. What do the patients and their families expect from the
health workers?
= Patients and their families expect
health workers to prioritize their well-being, provide attentive and
compassionate care, and communicate effectively.
f. List the questions that the author was asked frequently in
the hospital.
= The author was frequently asked the
questions "Was she premature?" and "Was your delivery
normal?" during her hospital stay.
g. Why did the health workers make gender error about the
author's daughter?
= The health workers made a gender
error about the author's daughter despite her not wearing any obvious gender
indicators. The author assumes that there may have been mistakes or lack of
attention to detail in her baby's paperwork.
h. According to the author, how do people perceive the career of
health workers.
=
According to the author, people
perceive the career of health workers as not glamorous but as a choice made to
help sick people get well. The author emphasizes the importance of confirming
this belief through their interactions with patients
D.
If you become a health worker in the future, what lessons can you learn from
this letter?
As
a health worker, there are several lessons to be learned from this letter:
1.
Focus on patient-centered care:
Always prioritize the needs and well-being of the patients above personal egos
or conflicts. Remember that patients and their families expect and deserve your
full attention and care.
2.
Maintain professionalism: Avoid
bad-mouthing colleagues or complaining about them in front of patients or their
families. Maintain a positive and supportive working environment.
3.
Effective communication: Take the
time to listen to patients and their families actively. Avoid making
assumptions or mistakes in addressing them, such as gender errors. Apologize
sincerely if mistakes are made and make an effort to rectify them.
4.
Use documentation properly: Make
sure to read and update patient charts accurately, ensuring that important
information is recorded and shared with the team. This helps in providing
comprehensive and informed care.
5.
Reflect on personal behavior: Be
mindful of the impact your words and actions have on patients and their
families. Strive to instill confidence, provide positive news, and demonstrate
genuine care and empathy.
By
implementing these lessons, you can contribute to creating a more positive and
patient-centered healthcare environment.
GRAMMAR-I
B. Change the following
sentences into indirect speech. The beginning of each sentence is given.
a. "Please help me fix this machine."
She requested me to help her fix that machine.
b. "Don't please switch on the
fan?"
The electrician requested not to switch on
the fan.
c. "Help me with my homework,
please."
My friend requested to help her with her
homework.
d. "Lend me some money, please."
The teacher asked me to lend some money
e. "Do your
homework!"
The teacher told me to do my homework.
f. "Don't smoke!"
The doctor advised not to smoke
g. "Don't make a mess!"
My mother advised not to make a mess.
A
Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life
Ladies and gentlemen.
I'm delighted to have the
honour of opening this international conference on the Joint Programming
Initiative "A Healthy Diet for a Healthy
Life".
It's a topic that's never
out of the media, with endless variations on whether carbs, fat, sugar or
protein are good or bad, or reports on the latest wonder food that will stop
cancer in its tracks or help us live longer.
We are now relying on
science and innovation to help us tackle the new public health challenge that
is diet and lifestyle-related dis- eases such as overweight and
obesity-sometimes described as the greatest public health challenge of our
times.
It's a challenge that all
member states are facing to different degrees, so it makes perfect sense - both
scientifically and economically to pool our knowledge together.
That's why this Joint Programming Initiative is
so important.
When Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life was
launched, the Council of the European Union noted that in the last three
decades the levels of overweight and obesity in the EU have risen dramatically,
particularly among children, and that the trend of poor diet and low physical
activity is getting even worse.
Many chronic conditions such as cancer,
neurological and mental disorders, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and type 2
diabetes can be prevented or modified through better lifestyles and healthier
diets.
Different projects are delivering insights such
as how diabetes and obesity can be prevented, how they progress, how early
diagnosis can improve quality of life,
and how to select the best treatments.
But despite the
improvements, much more needs to be done, particularly because of the
trans-generational effects of obesity and diabetes.
Horizon 2020, Europe's 80-billion-euro research
and innovation programme, is designed to tackle society's biggest challenges.
The two things that are most relevant to 'A
Healthy Diet for A Healthy
Life' are food safety and the bioeconomy, and
health, demographic
change and wellbeing.
For the next seven years, these challenges will
fund the very best research on nutrition, health, diet-related disease and
ageing and translate the knowledge gained into innovative and effective
products, treatments, services and strategies to benefit all patients, and to
prevent many people from developing disease in the first place.
It will require an
unprecedented level of cooperation along the healthcare innovation chain,
starting with researchers that char- acterise diseases, to those who use this
knowledge by developing new biomarkers, diagnostics and medicines and to
regulators who evaluate and approve them.
Unfortunately, different attempts to encourage
healthier eating have not yet led to major changes in patterns of food purchase
and consumption.
That's where a multidisciplinary approach comes
in, with health and nutrition research and innovation that includes the social
sciences. We all know, for example, that understanding people's behaviours and
their relationship to food and exercise is vital in helping them to make healthier
choices.
I'm convinced that Horizon 2020 can make
excellent progress on research and innovation for healthy diets and healthy
lives.
There's no point in all this effort if the good
intentions of theResearch Agenda aren't turned into concrete action.
So, implementation is
important, and this will be achieved first by coordinating national research
programmes and activities. Today's launch of the implementation plan marks a
major step forward in putting the Strategic Research Agenda into action.
And I also encourage you to explore other
avenues besides joint
calls and knowledge networks to implement your
Strategic Research
Agenda such as linking to other relevant JPIs
and by benefiting from
common European research infrastructures.
Above all, in this critical
phase of implementation, I urge the Member States participating in this JPI to
unlock national funding for research and to actively engage in aligning
national research programmes and innovation policies.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I wish you an excellent
conference, full of innovative ideas and interesting discussions. I look
forward to hearing the results.
Thank you.
(The text is an adapted
version of the opening address to the conference on the Joint Programmaing
Initiative (IPI) delivered by Maire Geoghegan Quinn, European Commissioner for
Research, Innovation and Science, in Brussels on
28 March 2014)
A. Consult a dictionary or
the internet and define the following words/phrases.
a. Wonder food: A term used to describe a food or ingredient that is
believed to have extraordinary health benefits or healing properties.
b. Cardiovascular diseases: A group of disorders that affect the heart and blood
vessels, including conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and high blood
pressure.
c. Bioeconomy: An economic system that utilizes biological resources
and processes to produce sustainable products, energy, and services.
d. Demographic change: Refers to shifts in the composition and
characteristics of a population, including factors such as age, gender,
fertility rates, migration patterns, and life expectancy.
e. Multidisciplinary approach: An approach that involves incorporating knowledge and
expertise from various disciplines or fields of study to address complex
problems or challenges.
f. Economic inequalities: Refers to the disparities or differences in income,
wealth, and opportunities among individuals or groups within a society.
g. Neurological disorders: Disorders that affect the brain, spinal cord, and
nerves, leading to symptoms such as cognitive impairment, movement problems,
seizures, and sensory disturbances.
h. Biomarkers: Biological indicators or measurable characteristics
that can be used to assess and evaluate physiological, pathological, or
pharmacological processes or responses.
B. Complete the sentences below with one of
the words in red from the text above.
d. Your life changes………….
if you perform well in your study
e. Mr. Gurung
is leaving the job because of …………disease.
f. Early.................... of a disease helps
us to cure it soon.
g. We have faced ……. level of climate change at
present.
h. The patient may need blood work or other............to
determine his specific health problem.
i. The world looked for different ........ to
find the solution to COVID-19.
a. The children were
especially delighted that there were enough cookies for each of them to
have two.
b. The organization held its annual conference
in New York this year. The health ministers of more than forty countries
attended it.
c. It is collaboration
that makes any organization a successful one.
d. Your life changes well if you perform
in your studies.
e. Mr. Gurung is leaving the job because of neurological
disease.
f. Early diagnosis of a disease helps us
to cure it soon.
g. We have faced unprecedented level of
climate change at present.
h. The patient may need
blood work or other biomarkers to determine his specific health problem.
i. The world looked for different approaches
to find the solution to COVID-19.
C. Choose the best alternatives to complete
the following sentences.
a. The greatest public health challenge at
present is.
i. cancer ii. diabetes iii.
obesity iv. cardiovascular disease
b. The Joint Programming Initiative will bring
the ............ of member states together.
i. lifestyle ii.
economy iii. challenge iv.
knowledge
c. The health care innovation chain begins
from..
i. researchers ii. biomarkers iii. diagnostics iv. regulators
d. The need behind multidisciplinary approach is
i. the unchanged pattern of
food purchase and consumption
ii. the lack of effective treatments for
patients
iii. the poor quality of life
iv. the lack of progress in research and
innovation
e. Through this speech, the speaker wants
to.........
i. open the conference on
the Joint Programming Initiative
ii. invite new public health challenge
iii. launch the programme 'A Healthy Diet for a
Healthy Life'
iv. appeal the members of EU for collaboration
for research and innovation
D. Answer the following
questions.
a. What topic is the speaker talking about
when she says, "It's a topic that's never out of the media?"
The speaker is talking about the topic of a
healthy diet for a healthy life.
b. According to the speaker, what is the cause
of obesity among children in the EU?
According to the speaker, the cause of obesity among children in the EU is
the trend of poor diet and low physical activity, which is getting worse.
c. What should people do to
prevent themselves from the diseases like type 2 diabetes?
According to the text, people should adopt better
lifestyles and healthier diets to prevent diseases like type 2 diabetes.
d. What is Horizon 2020?
Horizon 2020 is Europe's 80-billion-euro research and
innovation program designed to tackle society's biggest challenges.
e. Why is research very important to fight
against the health challenges?
Research is very important to fight against
health challenges because it provides insights, knowledge, and innovations that
can lead to better understanding, prevention, and treatment of diseases.
f. What result can Horizon
2020 give if it is implemented effectively?
If implemented effectively, Horizon 2020 can result in
innovative and effective products, treatments, services, and strategies for
nutrition, health, diet-related diseases, and aging. It can benefit patients by
improving their quality of life and preventing the development of diseases.
g. What results does the speaker expect from the
conference?
The speaker expects the conference to generate
innovative ideas and interesting discussions. The specific results or outcomes
desired from the conference are not mentioned in the text.
h. Do you think that the
people of the EU will be benefitted by this conference? If yes, what benefits
will they get?
It can be inferred that the people of the EU can
potentially benefit from this conference. By pooling knowledge and resources,
implementing research findings, and promoting healthier lifestyles, the
conference aims to address the public health challenges related to diet and
improve the well-being of individuals in the EU.
Grammar II
A. Circle the correct words to complete these
sentences.
a. The doctor told me do /to do some
exercise everyday.
b. She said, "Don't shout /Not to
shout."
c. The doctor forbade me to
eat/not to eat junk food.
d. I told her, "To speak/Speak
slowly."
e. Sumina promised to tell no one/not to tell
anyone.
f. My mother said, "To get /Get out of bed
early!"
g. The mountain guide
warned him to take/not to take the oxygen
cylinder.
h. Sugam said to me, "Go To go home and
take a rest."
i. He ordered us we got out /to get out of his
way.
j. The librarian requested them please do not
make not to make a noise.
Answer:
a. The doctor told me to do
some exercise everyday.
b. She said, "Not to
shout."
c. The doctor forbade me to
eat junk food.
d. I told her to speak
slowly.
e. Sumina promised not to
tell anyone.
f. My mother said,
"Get out of bed early!"
g. The mountain guide
warned him not to take the oxygen cylinder.
h. Sugam said to me,
"Go home and take a rest."
i. He ordered us to get out
of his way.
j. The librarian requested
them not to make a noise.
B. Change the following
sentences into indirect speech. Use the reporting verbs in brackets.
a. "Bring some sugar, Punita," she
said. (ask)
b. "You must submit your assignment
soon," the teacher said. (tell)
c. "Remember to come early,
Anu," he said. (remind)
d. "You should see a
doctor, Mrs Tamang," he said. (advise)
e. "Keep all the
windows open, Nona," my father said. (warn)
f. "Go home, Prashun," Furba said.
(tell)
Answer:
a. She asked Punita to
bring some sugar.
b. The teacher told me that
I must submit my assignment soon.
c. He reminded Anu to come
early.
d. He advised Mrs. Tamang to
see a doctor.
e. My father warned Nona to
keep all the windows open.
f. Furba told Prashun to go
home.
C. Report the following sentences in indirect
speech.
a. The hermit said, "Don't idle away your
time."
b. Madan said to his friend. "Please help
me with money."
c. "Be not afraid,
noble prince", said the Guru.
d. He said to me, "Let me do my work."
e. The General said to his troops, "Guard
the fort.
f. Aaswin said to the
teacher, "Please excuse me, madam."
g. The guide said to the visitors, "Follow
me carefully."
h. My teacher said to me, "Don't look
behind."
i. Mother said to the
daughter, "Get ready to receive the guests."
j. The boy said to the rescuers, "Please
help me to get out ofthi s well."
k. The teacher said to the boys, "Read
silently."
l. The coach said, "Let's play a friendly
football match."
m. The monk said to us, "Give up bad
habits."
n. Father said to me, "Do not tell a
lie."
Answer:
a. The hermit advised not
to idle away my time.
b. Madan asked his friend
to help him with money.
c. The Guru told the noble
prince not to be afraid.
d. He asked me to let him
do his work.
e. The General instructed
his troops to guard the fort.
f. Aaswin requested the
teacher to excuse him.
g. The guide asked the
visitors to follow him carefully.
h. My teacher told me not
to look behind.
i. Mother told the daughter
to get ready to receive the guests.
j. The boy pleaded with the
rescuers to help him get out of the well.
k. The teacher told the
boys to read silently.
l. The coach suggested
playing a friendly football match.
m. The monk urged us to
give up bad habits.
n. Father told me not to
tell a lie.