Ways with Words

A. Find the words from the text which mean the following:

• a. a messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission: envoy

• b. the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect: dignity

• c. harm done to someone in response to harm: revenge

• d. a person who holds extreme views in political or religious matters: extremist

• e. sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others: compassion

• f. a person who is believed to speak for God: prophet

• g. the study of the nature of knowledge, reality and existence: philosophy

• h. the use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage or destroy: violence

• i. an unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people or things: prejudice

B. Match the words on the left with their opposite meanings on the right:

• Honour – Disgrace

• Innocent – Guilty

• Brutality – Kindness

• Forgiveness – Punishment

• Illiteracy – Literacy

C. Using a dictionary

a. Answer the questions based on the dictionary entry:

1. What is the headword in the first entry? The headword in the first entry is "Humanity."

2. How many meanings of the word ‘humanity’ are given? There are four distinct meanings provided for "humanity."

3. What do the abbreviations U, OPP, pl, and sth stand for? They stand for Uncountable, Opposite, Plural, and Something, respectively.

4. What is the British English spelling of ‘humanize’? The British spelling is "humanise."

5. How is the word ‘humanize’ pronounced? It is pronounced as 'hju:mənaɪz'.

6. If we say "Every person should have the sense of humanity," which meaning is applied? The applied meaning is the quality of showing kindness toward humans and animals to ensure they do not suffer needlessly.

b. Arrange the following words in alphabetical order:

1. Acute, advance, agreement, aid, allergy, amuse, analysis, anxiety, assure, attain.

2. Small, smallpox, smart, smashed, speaking, smearing, smelling, smoke, smoothly, smuggler.

3. Terminal, terminate, terminology, terms, terrace, terrible, territory, terror.

Comprehension

Answer the following questions:

a. Why did the speaker receive thousands of good-wishes cards and gifts from all over the world?

The speaker was targeted and shot by the Taliban on the left side of her forehead. While she was being treated in the hospital and undergoing her recovery process, people from across the globe sent thousands of gifts and well-wish cards to show their support.

b. According to the speaker, what are hundreds of human rights activists and social workers struggling for?

Based on the speaker's words, hundreds of social workers and human rights activists are currently striving to reach their objectives of ensuring global peace, equality, and access to education.

c. What has she learnt from Gandhi?

She has acquired the principle and fundamental value of non-violence from the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

d. In what sense is peace necessary for education?

Peace is an essential requirement for high-quality learning. A fruitful educational experience is only possible when the environment is tranquil; otherwise, students live in fear of going to school and find it impossible to concentrate on their lessons. Thus, peace is a prerequisite for education.

e. According to the speaker, what are the main problems faced by both men and women?

The speaker identifies poverty, a lack of awareness (ignorance), social injustice, systemic racism, and the withholding of fundamental human rights as the primary challenges confronting both genders.

f. What is Malala calling upon all governments?

Malala urges all world governments to guarantee free education for every child, to take a stand against violence and terrorism, and to safeguard children from all forms of harm and brutality.

g. What is the main message of this speech?

The core message is that education serves as a powerful tool to eliminate illiteracy, end terrorism, and stop the violation of basic human rights. Consequently, the top priority for every government should be to provide educational opportunities to every child on earth.

Critical Thinking

a. ‘All children have the right to quality education. How can we ensure this right to every child? Discuss the role of the government and the parents to make sure that every child can attend school.’

In the 21st century, quality education is a vital necessity. Achieving this requires the coordinated efforts of several key stakeholders, primarily the government and parents.

Role of Government:

• The government should provide financial support or subsidies, such as covering school fees for families with low incomes.

• Ensuring educational equity is vital; the government must make sure public institutions provide the same high standard of knowledge as private ones.

• Teachers should receive competitive salaries to ensure they remain dedicated and motivated in their instructional roles.

• Authorities must implement policies to update and modernize the curriculum, removing obsolete materials that hinder the progress of both students and educators.

Role of Parents:

• Children are deeply influenced by their parents' actions, so parents must act as positive academic role models.

• Parents should engage in frequent conversations with their children about their school experiences and memories.

• They should assist children in staying organized with their schedules, ensuring there is dedicated time for studying.

• It is the parents' responsibility to foster a quiet, supportive, and pleasant learning atmosphere within the home.

b. ’Do you think that there is still discrimination between sons and daughters in terms of providing education in our country? What strategies do you suggest to overcome such discrimination against girls?’

Education in Nepal remains in a transitional phase. Although there have been improvements in offering free public schooling, many still view it as inferior to private education. Government schools often face funding shortages and offer lower educational standards. Unfortunately, a significant number of girls are sent to these government schools, while their brothers are given the chance to attend better-funded private institutions. This imbalance is rooted in a long history of gender-based marginalization in Nepali culture. 

Many parents discriminate against daughters because they believe girls will eventually leave to join a new family after marriage and won't be there to support them in old age. Furthermore, the persistent belief that males are more capable in physical, mental, and political spheres leads parents to invest more in their sons' schooling. To achieve national prosperity, we must implement strategies to provide equal education for girls, such as:

1. Eliminating all forms of gender bias.

2. Creating more opportunities for women to hold positions of power and gain financial independence.

3. Ending all forms of violence and sexual misconduct against women.

4. Changing the psychological preference for sons over daughters.

5. Reallocating funds traditionally used for dowries into the higher education of daughters.

c. ‘A Chinese philosopher Confucius said, “If your plan is for one year, plant rice; if your plan is for ten years, plant trees; if your plan is for one hundred years, educate children.” What is the meaning of this saying? Elaborate this with examples.’

The essence of this statement is that the magnitude of our goals dictates the type of effort required. Ambitious, long-term destinations require a much longer commitment. This philosophical doctrine emphasizes that education is the ultimate catalyst for profound, multi-dimensional change in human life. Unlike planting rice for a quick harvest or trees for a decade-long growth, the true impact of education is measured over generations.

Currently, an individual without education is as ineffective as a pen without ink. Education builds our character and earns us respect within the community. Moreover, imagining a developed nation without a foundation of learning is as unrealistic as "building castles in the air." 

If the children of today receive a high-standard education, they will become the architects of a developed nation and a more civilized society in the future. Investing in a child’s education is an investment in the long-term well-being of the entire country.

Grammar

Classify the underlined words into different word classes:

• a. The man who is wearing glasses is my uncle’s friend.

  • who – Pronoun

  • wearing – Verb

  • my – Determiner

• b. I bought a round table in the supermarket.

  • round – Adjective

  • the – Determiner

• c. Alas, she is dead.

  • Alas – Interjection

• d. Hari works very hard all the time but his wife is very lazy.

  • hard – Adverb

  • wife – Noun

  • very – Adverb

• e. I have never been to Japan.

  • never – Adverb

• f. Ann drove a car safely.

  • Ann – Noun

  • Safely – Adverb

• g. Nobody has claimed it.

  • nobody – Pronoun

  • it – Pronoun

• h. Her hand with a knife.

  • her – Determiner

  • with – Preposition

• i. They have postponed the program because of rain.

  • have – Verb

  • because of – Preposition

  • rain – Noun

• j. Everybody comes to the party.

  • everybody – Pronoun

• k. All such people ought to be avoided.

  • all – Determiner

  • such – Determiner

• l. All of the food has gone.

  • all – Pronoun

• m. What was that noise?

  • what – Pronoun

• n. One must not boast of one's own success.

  • one – Pronoun

• o. Nobody was there to rescue the child.

  • nobody – Pronoun

• p. Neither of the accusations is true.

  • neither – Pronoun

• q. Neither answer is correct.

  • neither – Determiner

• r. Here is the book that you lent me.

  • here – Adverb

  • that – Pronoun

• s. Without health there is no happiness.

  • without – Preposition

  • health – Noun

  • happiness – Noun