Knowledge and Wisdom

About The Author:

Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell,(18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970) was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these in any profound sense. He was born in Monmouthshire, into one of the most prominent aristocratic families in Britain.

Russell led the British "revolt against idealism" in the early 20th century. He is considered one of the founders of analytic philosophy along with his predecessor Gottlob Frege and his protégé Ludwig Wittgenstein. He is widely held to be one of the 20th century's premier logicians. He co-authored, with A. N. Whitehead, Principia Mathematica, an attempt to ground mathematics on logic. His philosophical essay "On Denoting" has been considered a "paradigm of philosophy". His work has had a considerable influence on logic, mathematics, set theory, linguistics, artificial intelligence, computer science (see type theory and type system), and philosophy, especially philosophy of language, epistemology, and metaphysics.

Russell was a prominent anti-war activist; he championed anti-imperialism and went to prison for his pacifism during World War I. Later, he campaigned against Adolf Hitler, then criticised Stalinist totalitarianism, attacked the involvement of the United States of America in the Vietnam War, and was an outspoken proponent of nuclear disarmament. In 1950 Russell was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought."

Summary:

In this essay, Russel defines wisdom, and enumerates various ways of achieving it. He laments that though vast knowledge has been acquired, there has bee of no corresponding increase in wisdom. 
Russel defines wisdom by telling us about things which contribute to wisdom. The first is a sense of proportion. It is the capacity to consider all important factors in a problem carefully. Specialization makes it difficult. For example scientists discover new medicines but they do not know what impact these medicines will have on the life of the people . The medicines may reduce the infant death rate .But it may lead to increased population. In poor counties it may lead to shortage of food. If there are more people , it may lower the standard of life. The knowledge of the composition of the atom could be misused by a lunatic to destroy the world. Knowledge without wisdom can be harmful. It should be combined with the total needs of mankind. Even complete knowledge is not enough . It should be related with a certain knowledge of the purpose of life. The study of history can illustrate it. For example hegel wrote with great knowledge about history , but he made the Gemans believe that they were a master race. It led to the war. It is necessary therefore to combine knowledge with feelings. Men who have knowledge but no feelings lack wisdom. 

We need wisdom both in public and private life. We need wisdom to decide the goal of our life. We need it to free ourselves from personal personal prejudices. We may pursue even a novel thing unwisely if it is too big to achieve. People have wasted their lives in search of the 'philosopher's Stone ', or the elixir of life . They were not pragmatic. They were looking for simple solutions to the complex problems of mankind. Man may attempt to achieve the impossible, he may do harm to himself in the process.

Similarly in personal life wisdom is needed to avoid dislike for one another. Two persons may remain enemies because of their prejudice. One may dislike the other for imaginary faults. It they can be told that we all have some flaws, they may become friends. Russel believes that thought reasonable persuasion. We can avoid hatred. Wisdom lies in freeing ourselves from the control of our sense of our sense organs. Our ego develops through our senses. We cannot be free from the sense of sight, sound and touch. We know the world primarily though our senses. As we grow we discover that there are other things also. We start recognizing them . Thus we give up thinking of ourselves alone. We start thinking of other people, we grow wise. We give up our egoism. It is difficult to completely get rid of selfishness, but we can think of things beyond our immediate surroundings. Wisdom comes when we start giving importance to things which do not concern immediately. Wisdom comes when we stars loving others. 
Russel feels that wisdom can be taught as a goal of education. The message in the parable of the Good Samaritan is that we should love our neighbor, whether friend or foe. Many a time, we miss the message in this parable, because we cease to love those who cause harm to the society. The only way out is though understanding and not hatred. In brief Russel exhorts us not hate anybody. The author draws out examples from history, of Queen Elizabeth I, Henry the IV, and Abraham Lincoln, who were free from the errors committed by other eminent people in the past. 
The dangers of hatred and narrow - mindedness can be pointed out in the course of giving knowledge .Russel feels knowledge and morals can be combined in scheme of education . People should be educated to see things in relation to other things of the world . They should be encouraged to think of themselves as world citizens.

In conclusion the author states five factors that contribute to wisdom. They are. 
1) Comprehensiveness 
2) A sense of proportion
3) Emancipation
4) Impartiality 
5) Awareness of human needs and understating. 

Summing up, as knowledge increases, our power to do evil also increases. In order to make good use of our knowledge we would require more and more wisdom. we need more wisdom to make good use of our increasing knowledge. Only then can we realize our purpose in life, and achieve our aims. 

Question and Answers

1. What has scientific medicine succeeded in doing?
   what has been its other effect? Did the medical scientist want this result? The scientist has the knowledge to make more people live. But he hasn't the wisdom to see something else-what is it ?
   A. Scientist medicine has succeeded in enormously lowering the infant death rate in Europe, America, Asia and Africa . Its other effect is increase in population and decease in standard of living. The Scientist makes more people live. But he has not had wisdom to prevent its destructive aspect. 
2. Many eminent historians have done more harm than good. How did this happen? where did Hegel's philosophy of history go wrong. 
   A. Many eminent historians did more harm than good. They viewed facts through the distorting medium of their own passions Hegel's philosophy went wrong in the sense that he gave importance to Germany as the torch bearer for all nations. That was a narrow a outlook which lacked comprehensiveness. 
3. Mr. A and Mr. B hate each other and through mutual hatred, bring each other to destruction". What argument of the author's does the example Mr. A and Mr. B prove? 
   A. Mr. A and Mr B must be convinced that each other has only the normal share of human wickedness and that their enmity is harmful to both. 
4. Why is it that we cannot help the "egoism of the senses"? 
   A. Every man always thinks of himself. we cannot stop it. Sight, sound and touch are bound up with our own bodies and cannot be made impersonal. when a person becomes old his thoughts become less personal. He achieves growing wisdom. 
5. How many factors contribute to wisdom? list them? 
   A. There are five factors which contribute to wisdom.
   They are
   1. Sense of proportion
   2. Certain awareness of ends of human life
   3. Choice of ends to be pursued.
   4. Emancipation from personal prejudice.
   5. Emancipation from the tyranny of the here and the now. 
6. 'We are told on Sundays that we should love our neighbors as ourselves'. What does 'Sunday' stand for here? 
   A. Sunday, here stands for a day of prayer or worship. 
7. In what form should resistance be used in order to prevent the spread of evil? 
   A. Resistance should be used only if it prevents the spread of evil. If should be combined with the smallest degree of force and the greatest degree of understanding. 
8. In what way was the war conducted by Lincoln different from other wars? Do you think a war can be fought. Without deviating from wisdom? 
   A. The was conducted by Lincoln was different from other was. It was fought for a noble purpose. Now a days it is impossible to wage a war as Abraham Lincoln did without deviating from wisdom. 
9. What is wrong with the customary moral instruction? In what way should the teaching of wisdom differ from moral instruction? 
   A. Customary moral instruction lacks in intellectual element. In the course of giving knowledge, bad results of hatred and narrow mindedness should be pointed out knowledge and morals should be taught side by side. 
10. What is the author's concept of a citizen? What is the difference between a citizen if the world and a citizen of a nation? Do you think you can be both at the same time? 
    A. The author's concept of a citizen is that a person must be a citizen of the world but not that of a nation. A citizen of the world has a narrow outlook. The former has more wisdom that the latter. One cannot be both at the same time.
11. What does increase in knowledge result in? 
    A. In crease in knowledge results in the development of various skills further resulting in scientific advancement. It also augments our capacity for evil unless our purposes are wise. So increase in knowledge should result in wisdom, in proportion. otherwise it would lead to hatred, destruction and disaster.

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The Beautiful White Horse

About The Author:

William Saroyan ; (August 31, 1908 – May 18, 1981) was an Armenian-American dramatist and author. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1940, and in 1943 won the Academy Award for Best Story for the film adaptation of his novel The Human Comedy. The setting of many of his stories and plays is his native Fresno, the center of Armenian immigrant life in California. Some of his best-known works are The Time of Your Life, My Name Is Aram and My Heart's in the Highlands.

Stephen Fry described that Saroyan as "one of the most underrated writers of the [20th] century." Fry suggests that "he takes his place naturally alongside Hemingway, Steinbeck and Faulkner."

Summary:

This is a story of fun and adventure of two young cousins, Aram and Mourad. It also deals with their love and concern towards animals.

One morning Mourad woke up Aram and asked him to accompany him on a ride. Aram could not believe his eyes when he saw a beautiful horse. The horse did not belong their family because they were poor. The family was known for its pride and honesty. They were God - fearing , and believed in being just and fair. They never exploited at yone, so Aram could not understand from where the horse had come.

Suddenly Aram realized that Mourad had been taking early rides for quite some time. He asked him whether he had stolen it. Mourad replied that he did not steal it, but only borrowed it for a ride. He said that it would be stealing if they sold it.

The horse actually belonged to Mr. John Byro. Mourad had taken it from his stable without informing him.

In their family, Mourad and Uncle Khosrove were considered to have a 'crazy streak'. Khosrove was a furious and impatient man. He stopped anyone from talking by using a cliché "pay no attention to it", no matter what the speaker wanted to say.

Mourad and Aram rode the horse together. Then Mourad rode it alone. Mourad loved animals and had a way with the horse. He could handle him very well. When Aram tried to ride it, he fell down. Later they hid the horse in a deserted vineyard. They also found some oats and gram for the horse.

One day Aram's mother had two visitors. One was John Byro, and the other was Khosrove. John Byro complained to Khosrove that someone had stolen his beautiful horse. He was getting into debts, as he could not use his horse drawn carriage.

Khosrove thought it was a trivial problem , and responded in his usual manner. "Bay no attention to it". Mr. Byro felt very bad. Aram's mother explained to Mr. Byro that khosrove was crazy, and did not know what he was saying.

Though they were aware of Byro's misery , Aram and Mourad decided to keep the horse for another six months. They continued to ride it everyday. One morning they ran into John Byro. He immediately identified his horse. Since he was aware of the good family background, and Khosrove's temper, he could not accuse the boys of stealing. He said that the horse looked like the twin of his lost horse.

The very next day, the cousins decided to return the horse to Byro's stable . Before they left it there, Mourad put his arms round the horse's neck and patted it. He had a deep attachment and love for the horse, and found it hard to part with him. Mourad was sensitive and understood the language of all animals. Even the dogs did not bark when Mourad went into John Byro's vineyard . He had a way with the animals.

John Byro was pleased to find his horse. He went to Aram's horse and informed them that he had found the found the horse. He felt happy because the horse was now much stronger, well behaved, and better tempered. The story tells us of innocence, and youthful adventure. The author sanctions the action of stealing the horse. But for them it is a simple act of fun. They did not think of it as an objects to sell . They wanted to have the thrill of a ride. Having enjoyed the trip they ate tempted to keep the horse longer than they wanted to.
Mr. Byro also shoes his understanding of the innocence of the boys . He is satisfied when the horse is returned.

Questions & Answers

1. What was Arm's family famous for? What were the three qualities of the family that were mentioned?
Arm's family was famous for honesty. The members of that family were proud first, honest next and after that they believed in right and wrong.

2. Aram could do three things about the horse. What were they? The words even though are repeated several times. What is the effect of this repetition?Aram could see the horse smell it and hear it breathing. He repeated the phrase "eventhough" several times to emphasize the point that he could not believe his cousin. Mourad buying the horse.

3. How did Aram justify his cousin's way of getting hold of a horse? Why did he think it wasn't stealing at all?Both Aram and Mowad were crazy of a horse-side. Aram knew that his cousin had stolen the horse. But he justified it saying that it wouldn't be stealing at all as they were crazy about horses. He also asserted that stealing a horse for a ride was not the same as stealing something else, such as money. According to him, it wouldn't become stealing until they offered to sell the horse. Thus Aram justified his cousin's action.

4. How did Aram justify the stealing of the horse?
It seemed to Aram that stealing a horse for a ride was not the same as stealing something else, such as money. Further, it wouldn't become stealing since they hadn't offered to sell the horse. Moreover, it wasn't stealing at all when one was crazy about horses as he and his cousin had been.
Aram, thus justified his cousin's way of getting hold of a horse.

5. "How long ago did you steal this horse?" How did. Aram realise that Mourad had stolen the horse some time ago?Aram asked his cousin where he would hide the horse. The latter said that he knew a place. Suddenly Aram realised that Mourad had stolen the horse sometime ago and rode it since them.

6. Where did Mourad hide the horse? What did Aram find there? What does it show?Mourad hid the horse quietly in an empty vineyard. Aram saw some oats and dry grass there. It was foder for the horse. It proved that the horse was stolen quite sometime ago.

7. How did uncle khosreve react to the news that John Byro's horse had been stolen?John Byro told Khosrove that his horse had been stolen a month before. Then Khosrove reacted angrily. He became very irritated. He roared that losing a horse was immaterial. He shouted that one should not cry over a horse. Thus Khosrove showed no sympathy towards Byro's loss.

8. What did Aram want Mourad to do after he knew that the horse belonged to John Byro? How did Mourad react to his suggestion?Aram wanted a promise from Mourad that the latter would not return the horse untill he learnt riding. Mourad reacted sharply saying that it would amount to inviting a member of their family stealing. He also said that the horse must go back to its true owner.

9. How did John Byro, the owner of the horse, react when he saw mourad and Aram with the horse?John Byro saw Mourad and Aram with the horse. He also looked at the horse and made same it was his own. But he did not accuse the boys of stealing because he knew well how honest their parents were. Therefore he simply said that a suspicious man would believe his eyes instead of his heart. He also said he would swear the horse was his if he did not know the fame of their family for honesty. He added it could be the twin of his horse.

10. Why do you think the cousins returned the horse to the famer? Do you think they were ashamed of what they had done? Why do you think so?
The cousins returned the horse to the farmer as the horse was recognized by him. They were ashamed of what they had done. So they returned the horse the very next morning.

11. What picture of uncle Khosrove do you get from the story?Uncle Khosrove was an enormous man with a powerful head of black hair and a large moustache. He was a furious and impatient man. He never cared for losses. He would tell people with force not to pay attention to any kind of loss. He often repeated the statement in a roaring voice. It is no harm: pay no attention to it.

12. Who was John Byro? What had happened to his horse?John Byro was a pious farmer. He had a surrey with a white horse with which he eked his plain living. His horse was stolen by Mourad a month ago. He was crazy about horse riding. Moreover he belonged to a tribe famous for their honesty. So Byro dared not accure the boy of stealing even though he had seen his own horse with him. Thus Byro was quite simple with enormous patience and forbearance.

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Fire in the Forest

About The Author:

Norah Aileen Burke was born in Bedford on August 2, 1907, her parents—who had lived in India for many years—returning especially for her birth. The family returned to India when the baby Norah was only two months old, and she spent the next twelve years travelling around the jungle at the foothills of the Himalayas where her father, Redmond St. George Burke, was a forest officer with the Imperial Forest Service. Constantly changing camps, carrying their belongings by elephant, made education difficult, but she learned to write at the age of eight, and started writing stories straight away. She also read as much as she could, including bound volumes of Chums and Boy’s Own Paper, and even wrote and edited her own little magazine entitled The Monthly Dorrit.

Summary:

To be able to write about animals, it is essential not only to have personal experience and knowledge of animals, but a profound and sympathetic understanding of their habits, Norah Burke has all these, and in her stories she recreates with power and conviction the savagery and terror of the jungle, which they fight for survival demands. (From Jungle Picture)

In this essay, Norah Burke has conveyed how animals in the forest fight for survival demands and how the fire broke out in the forest because of the negligence of a man. She has also how forest department officials use a special technique to put out the fire in the forest.

A man took a last draw of the cigarette and dropped it on the path in the forest. The stub of the cigarette had a little spark, it became a flame and burned into a forest fire. The forest officials lit their counterfire and forced it to travel upwind and meet the oncoming blaze.

The spotted deer was away from the herd as she has just delivered a fawn the deer scented danger and urged the fawn to hurry. The deer pushed her fawn into the edge of water and she stood watching. Even the tiger also wanted to save himself from forest fire just like other animals, when the flames in the forest became less, a cool freeze blew along the water course and the animal dispressed.

Questions & Answers:

1. How did the fire in the forest start? What time of the day was it? What time of the year was it? Do you think the man started a fire deliberately? Why do you (not) think so? A. The fire in the forest started because a man who was jogging in the forest dropped his cigarette on the path. It was mid day . It was summer. No , I think so because he dropped it and jogged on through the jungle. It was an act of carelessness. 
2. How did the fire start and spread in the forest? A. A smoker took a last draw of his cigarette and dropped it on the path at midday in the jungle. The spark In the cigarette ignited the dried pieces of grass and twigs. There was breeze and the small flame grew into a mighty blaze. Soon it could be seen for miles around. 
3. The stub of the cigarette still held in it one little live ruby. Throughout the story, the fire is described as though it is a living thing may be another animal of the forest. What other words in the same paragraph suggest this ideas would you like to read through and find several more words of the same kind?
   A. The words pulsed, transferred, snapped, clung survived etc. suggest that the fire is described as though it is a living thing and as if it were another animal of the forest. 
4. Why were the animals not aware of what was to came? Why did the bird know about the fire before the animals did?A. The animals were resting in the heat of the day under the cool shade of the trees. So they were not aware of the on coming fire. But the bird was able to see the floating smoke and knew about the fire before the other animals did because it was whishing an the top of the thorn tree. 
5. The forest department started a fire to stop the fire . what was the idea behind it? 
   A. The forest department people cleared the undergrowth and all the tress and made a fire line to meet situations like this. They lighted up the counter fire along the edge of the neat fire line. Then it met the oncoming forest fire. when the two fires met, there would be nothing to burn. so both fires would go out. It was their special technique to halt the fire. 
6. Why was the spotted deer lying away from the herd? why do you think she had chosen that spot? How did she feel at that time? What happened soon afterwards? A. The spotted deer was lying away from the herd because she had recently given birth to fawn. she had chosen that particular spot as there was deep grass and her baby was safely hidden beside her. She was happy, peaceful and contented soon afterwards her peace was shattered because of the spread of the forest fire. 
7. Why was the spotted deer lying away from the herd? Why do you think she had chosen that spot? A. The spotter deer had recently given birth to a fawn . so she was lying away from the herd. She had specially chosen that spot because the deep grass there provided her a safe hiding place. Besides, the speckled shadows and the spots on her body looked so alike that her presence there with her baby could never be noticed by her enemies. 
8. How did the deer lie in the forest with her fawn?A. The deer lay invisible in the forest wither fawn in a happy and peaceful manner. She knew contentment and peace because no danger threatened her baby. she was happy about her achievement of having a baby. This peace was shattered by the approaching fire. 
9. How do the deer spot danger? Why was she on the alert all the time? A. The deer's ears constantly flicker this way and that way and that to bring them news. Their large eyes always stare into the shadows and the stripy tiger grass and their nostrils will be trembling in order to spot any danger. 
10. What were the thoughts and feelings of the mother deer before she became aware of the danger? A. Her fawn was too small to move and accompany the herd. But soon he would be stranger. Then both of them would live their life in the great forests in the fashion ordained by God. So also felt sure that her tiny stag would fight and win his hind in due course. These were the thoughts and feelings of the mother deer. 
11. He was too small to move yet, and accompany the herd. Do you think the fawn joined the herd sooner than his mother expected?A. It is said that the mother and the son had "presently" joined the herd again. So I think the fawn joined the herd sooner than his mother expected . 
12. How did the deer react when she first got the small of danger? A. The deer threw up her neck, every muscle of her body because alert as she felt the small of smoke. She outstretched her neck and soon her eyes began to smart. So bent anxiously to her fawn. Then she clearly saw the rolling smoke. 
13. The hind first saw a very thin film of smoke. The fire first appeared gradually to her but later with increasing intensity. What were the stages in which it came to her? Pick out the exact words from the story and list them?A. The thin filmy smoke gradually turned in to a fire and approached the hind with increasing intensity. The following are the exact words gossamer of smoke scent, heat of the fire smoke crackle of traveling flame road of the furnace, sparks gigantic flame raging flame. 
14. What did the mother deer do on seeing of fire? How did the fawn respond?A. The mother deer sprang to the fawn and pushed him to his feet. He was unable to do. So for his legs were soft and his hooves were the size of thumb bails. He gave a jump and fell over. She looked anxiously at her fawn. 
15. Why was the chital hind so cruel to her baby? Why did she do? A. Having seen the monkeys coming back, the chital hind anticipated mortal danger to her and her baby. Panic seized her. She there became cruel. At once she nudged her baby on. She started biting him hard and nipping his soft flesh. She was thus very much concerned and worried about his safety. 
16. What was the danger that threatened the chital hind's baby? A. 1. The chital hinds son was a new born baby who was too small to move yet.
    2.Having anticipated danger form the forest fire, his mother first nudged him to his feet and urged him along.
    3. But he kept sinking down.
    4. His mother, then forced him on with rough bites, punched his soft flesh and hunted him on.
    5. He was then suffering and trembling
    6. Thus, it was, in fact, his own mother who threatened him. 
17. 17. How did the hind and her baby try to escape from the fire?A. The hind was on the alert the moment she noticed the smoke scent. She nudged her baby to his feet. They had to stop have and there occasionally because of the dense undergrowth. She urged him along. He was slow and disobedient but she forced him on with rough bites. Nipping his soft flesh etc. He staggered and fell. When she realized that they had been caught between the two fires. She pushed him violently on to the river bed but right by the pool. Later she also reached there. Thus the hind and her baby escaped from the fire and survived. 
18. "Just the way you could be caught between two hunting panthers". DO you think the comparison is an apt one? In what way?A. Having noticed the fierceness of the forest fire. The hind hunts her baby on but he cannot get up .Just then the hind sees more fire coming from the opposite direction too. If the two fires meet there was no hope of their survival. It is just the way they could be caught between two hunting panthers their bitter enemies. Hence the comparison is quite apt. 
19. 'He gave a little frisky jump and fell over'. This is how the fawn first reacted to his mother's urging to run away from the fire. What happened to him as the minutes passed?A. Reacting to his mother's urge to run away from the fire, the fawn gave a little frisky jump and fell over. But as the minutes passed by
    1. He became slow, weak and disobedient. He kept sinking down and could not get up again.
    2. He walked unsteadily making shrill cries.
    3. When his mother hunter him on, he staggered and fell and started quivering.
    4. He lay panting on the earth and his flesh shivered when sparks fell on him burning his body but he did not get up. 
20. When did the deer first meet the tiger? Why did the tiger not attack her? A. The hind first pushed her fawn down to the pool. Her hooves slipped on the boulders and as she stood watching beside her fawn, she glanced round across the pool straight in to the eyes of the tiger and thus, met him first. The tiger did not attack her because he too was afraid of the fire and crouched there in the mud on the other side.
    Because of the severe heat and the bright light of the fire, he narrowed his eyes and stared into the deer's. However, he was not able to attack her. 
21. What did the tiger prepare to do later? How did the deer face him? What saved her and her baby?A. When the fire became less, the tiger got up and snarled at his prey. His eyes fell upon the hind and her baby. But when he was about to attack them, he heard a man's voice and moved off the place quickly into the jungle far away. Thus the hind and her fawn were saved. 
22. Give two reasons why the tiger did not eat the fawn?A. The tiger did not eat the fawn because he himself was frightened of the wild fire. He had just heard a man' voice. He began to think of his own safety instead of attacking and eating the fawn. 
23. The river bed was full of creatures....? Is It natural for the animals of the jungle to be together? Why then were they there? What difference do you see in their behavior when the fire began to die down? A. It is not natural for the animals of the jungle to be together. They were in the pool to save themselves from the engulfing fire. But whom the fire began to die down they became their usual selves. They behaved according to their instinct and dispersed. 
24. Why did the deer stay back even when the other animals went away? What did she do later?A. The fawn was not strong enough to move. So he and his mother stayed in the pool cooling their burns and drinking the tepid water later when he became strong enough, they moved into the unburned forest forest. They soon joined the herd.

I. Choose the correct meaning of the word given:

1. shrub(n) : stunted forest growth/ unwanted material/ rub off/ ignore
2. smart(v) : bright/ cause sharp pain/ active/ clever
3. glade : clear/ open space in a forest/ a soft movement/ the shade of a tree/ forest area
4. speckled : shining brightly/ having small sports/ having stripes/ scattered
5. rippling : pulling out quickly/ moving in wavy fashion/ getting ripe/ moving quickly
6. aquiver : like water/ moving slowly/ trembling/ sniff
7. gossamer: one who is engaged in a gossip/ light, filmy substance/ one who gives ear to gossips/ spider's web
8. alert : watchful/ active/ busy/ standing erect
9. frisky : cussing fear/ full of risk/ Joyful, lively/ free from any risk
10. wrench : a wicked person/ pull violently/ causing injury/ mean person
11. huddle : an upright frame to be jumped over/ crowd together/ throw out as useless/ arranged in order
12. fizzle : give a whistle/ hiss feebly/ unsatisfactory end/ a confusing problem
13. stalk(v) : go away/ go on talking/ walk with slow, stiff strides in a grim way/ walk away quickly in fear
14. tepid : fearless/ lukewarm/ boiling/ cold
15. singe : sing in a low voice/ sing loudly/ burn superficially/ warm the body
16. chink : make a sharp sound/ a small bit / a hole / to go down
17. torment : severe bodily or mental pain/ cause a wound / to worry / punish
18. furnace : an enclosed fire place/put furniture in / supply / anything made of fur
19. dappled: marketed / cut off / marked / separated
20. frayed : rough / hard / difficult / rude
21. blundering: worried / uneasy / angry / confused

II. Select the best option that conveys the meaning of the italicized word and write it.

1. Ramu stalked out of the hall after taking part in the debate. [ ]
   a) walked
   b) walked stiffly
   c) walked with unsteady steps
   d) hurried
2. The way he was treated in the presence of his friends tormented him [ ]
   a) made (him) very happy
   b) caused(him) shame
   c) caused great pain
   d) helped to console
3. When she saw her child after a long absence, love suffused her.[ ]
   a) over came b) well up from within c) made (her) mad d) became unbearable
4. He was not aware of what was happening behind him. [ ]
   a) mindful b) having knowledge c) careful d) cautious
5. The doctor advised him to keep his hands in tepid water for ten minutes [ ]
   a) cold b) lukewarm c) hot d) cool
6. I found the man staggering on the road. [ ]
   a) running along b) walking fast c) went away in rows d) throwing something about
7. He was waiting for the doctor frantically. [ ]
   a) in an angry mood b) in a vexed state c) wildly exited with anxiety d) in a joyful mood
8. The popping sound of the crackers nearly deafened. [ ]
   a) slow b) melodious c) explosive d)disturbing
9. At last we reached the glade in the middle of the forest. [ ]
   a) dark space b) clear open space c) uneven space d) cleared off space
10. The child was frisky at the sight of balloons in the park. [ ]
    a) sad b) unconcerned c) joyful d)angry

III. Fill in the blanks in the following passage with the appropriate word given in the brackets.

1. He behaved in a very _______ manner towards his poor relatives.
   (beneficial/beneficient/beneficiary)
2. All the characters in this novel are _______
   (imaginable/imaginary/imaginative)
3. By a strange _______ she got her first job the day she got married.
   (incidence/accident/coincidence)
4. It is _______ to park your car in a no parking area 
   (illegal/lawless/illegitimate)
5. In a play Akbar that we performed at school, all the players were in Moghul_______
(uniform/garment/costume)
7. It is _______ for us to go out now, it is very hot.
   (unlikely/impossible /possible)
8. Ours should be a _______ service to the poor.
   (compulsory/paid/free)
9. A _______ man would believe his eyes instead of his heart.
   (doubtful/strong/sympathetic)
10. She lost her brother .We went to _______ her.
    (congratulate/condemn/console)
11. The Minister was given a standing _______
    (ovation/oration/aviation)

IV. Find the wrongly spelt word in each set and write it correctly: 
1. doble / couple / struggle / nipple 
2. coupling / cutting/ rippling / creackling 
3. hurriedly / recently / delicately / constently 
4. brutal / pistol / mortel / cruel 

V. In each of the following groups of words, find the word in which the underlined part is pronounced in the same way as in the key word.

1. advice : practise chalk practice
2. throw : owl prowl go
3. bread : beard eat head
4. malice : police notice ice
5. advice : chalk click glance
6. descent : scooter scorching scenery

Anwers

I. Choose the correct meaning of the word given: 1. stunted forest growth 
2. cause sharp pain 
3. clear, open space in a forest
4. having small sports
5. moving in wavy fashion 
6. trembling
7. light, filmy substance
8. watchful
9. joyful, lively
10. pull violently
11. crowd together
12. hiss feebly
13. walk with slow, stiff strides in a grim way
14. lukewarm
15. burn superficially 
16. a hole
17. severe bodily or mental pain
18. an enclosed fire place
19. marked
20. rough
21. confused

II. 
1. b 
2. c
3. b
4. b
5. b
6. c
7. c
8. c
9. b
10.c

III. 
1. beneficial 
2. imaginary
3. coincidence
4. illegal
5. costume
6. unlikely
7. free
8. doubtful
9. console 
10. ovation 

IV. 
1. double 
2. crackling
3. constantly
4. mortal

V. 1. practice 
2. go
3. head 
4. ice
5. glance
6. scenery

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The Snapshot of a Dog

About The Author:-

James Grover Thurber (December 8, 1894 – November 2, 1961) was an American author, journalist, cartoonist, and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his cartoons and short stories, published mainly in The New Yorker magazine and collected in his numerous books. One of the most popular humorists of his time, Thurber celebrated the comic frustrations and eccentricities of ordinary people.

Summary:

In "Snapshot of a Dog", warmly recounts his boyhood association with a bull terrier called Rex. He narrates in a fond manner the many activities of his dog. He beautiful illustrates the relationship between a boy and his pet.

Rex was a strong and magnificent dog. He easily performed extravagant tasks set for him by Thurber and his brother . Rex could lift or drag whatever he wanted. He could even lift a ten feet rail, over a four feet wide gate. He would carry out his masters orders however difficult. He would keep in trying till the task was over. He never left things half done. Nothing was impossible for him. 

He was a tenacious fighter, though he never started one. He never went for another dog's throat. He would grip his opponents ears and hold on for a very long time. In one remarkable fight, he held on to the dogs ears from dusk till almost dawn. The fight took place in the street and held up the traffic. The fire brigade with its powerful hoses had to be called to stop the fight. Some relatives considered this a blot on the family name. They insisted that the brothers get rid of the dog. But the boys were ready to leave the town with the dog, than give it up. This shows the deep attachment that the owners have with their pet dog. He is not just an animal, but one of their family.

Rex never bit anyone. He had a gentle disposition. He growled only at prowlers . He killed cats, quickly and neatly without hatred. He did not prolong their agony. He was not foolish like other dogs who chased whatever they came across in the street. He never chased wagons because he knew it was meaningless. There was no use running after useless things . That was his philosophy. The author is comparing his dog with other dogs and is trying to show that Rex is obviously wise. 

Swimming was his favorite sport. He very much enjoyed swimming upstream. One night he brought a chest of drawers abandoned by someone . He was proud of his strength . Using all his energy he pulled the chest on to the porch. Rex could easily jump over eight feet walls. He ventured to jump higher walls. He never gave up trying till one of the brother would come and take him home. The word impossible never existed for him. Even death could not beat him down. 

His last moments were a battle with the Angle of death. One afternoon after receiving a thrashing from the owner of another dog, he comes home with multiple wounds. He licked the two master's hands, waited till the third master came. When the person for whom he was waiting came, Rex hobbled towards him. He touched his hand, and fell down again, never to get up. 

I. Choose the correct meanings of the word given. 

1. Stocking : brown streaks (things in store) / a band of colour / extending up to the knee / valuing at the market rate
2. Tranquil : joyful / exciting / peaceful / balanced
3. Extravagant : much more / beyond what is reasonable / unreasonable / useless
4. Buffet : apparatus for lessening the effect of a blow / strike repeatedly / a place where food id sold / meals served to guests
5. Disposition : wrong position / the act of doing away with / general tendency of character / peculiar way of thinking
6. Prowlers : persons who travel often / persons who move from place to place to make a living / persons who do not reach home till late at night / persons who move about houses with intention to steal
7. Strenuous : needing great effort / very difficult/ tiresome / encouraging
8. Turmoil : troublesome / disturbance/ a kind of oil / peace
9. Mettle : spirit and courage / strength / old form of the word 'metal' / busy oneself in something without being asked to do so
10. Integrity : intelligence / firmness of character and principle / the nature of being an integer / completeness
11. Tenacious : very wicked / very kind / stubborn / of a fighting nature
12. Torrent : strength / violent stream / whirlpool/ large number
13. Terrier : one which causes terror / a kind of small and active dog / a hunting dog / one which looks terrible.

II. Write the meanings to the underlined word.

1. He was trying to accomplish extravagant tasks my brothers and myself used to set for him.
   a) Impossible b) dangerous c) unreasonable
2. "Beware of your bad friends !" you are in a vicious circle
   a) dangerous b) useful c) bad
3. Most of the leaders tried to solve the Kashmir problem but accomplished nothing.
   a) arranged b) received c) succeeded
4. The tranquility of the hills has always attracted her
   a) peacefulness b) height c) cold
5. The climb will a real test of their mettle
   a) strength and enthusiasm b) spirit and courage c) interest and skill
6. Huge black snakes were wriggling around
   a) wringing b) moving c) biting
7. She shows a tenacious loyalty to friends.
   a) suspicious b) complete c) wavering d) firm
8. The explorers had to trudge through 20km of deep snow
   a) walk steadily b) walk slowly c) walk unsteadily 
9. It was a strenuous day for her.
   a) taking great effort b) successful c) disappointing
10. He received a mortal wound soon after the battle began
    a) causing death b) poisonous c) very slight

III. Choose the best alternative :

1. The animal _________ in pain as the arrow struck its side. (quivered, shivered, tumbled)
2. I was _________ to hear that man had not eaten for over a month. (astonished, astonishing, astonishment)
3. Ruju's _________ expenditure landed him in troubles. ( lavish, much, extravagant)
4. His feet were unsteady. He was _________ (stalking, scurrying, staggering)
5. Swimming is my favorite _________ (recreation, relaxation, retardation)
6. The big cats have a soft padding in their ______ ( feet, paws, legs)
7. The Taj Mahal is a _________ Structure. (tremendous, gigantic, magnificent)
8. There was a long delay before the officer ______ agreed to see us. (eventually, subsequently, consequently)
9. She was _________ in pain (writhing, wringing, withering)
10. When the police fired in the air the crud _________ soon (rushed,dispersed,disappeared)

IV. Find the wrongly spelt words.

1. Extravagent dignity brindle saddle
2. Beautifully wooden accomplish slipping
3. Wogging satisfaction thrown draging
4. Tremendous fighters disposition buffet
5. Cheek dispite base ball holding
6. During struggle apparatus neibour
7. Termoil seemed pieces battlion
8. Admirors wandered terrible apprently
9. Moment torrant freshet certain
10. Ceasing staggerring terrier founght

V. Rewrite as directed :

1. a) The teacher has punished the boys.
   b) The boys ____________________
2. a) She said to him, "When did you cove to Hyderabad?"
   b) She ____________________
3. a) The driver drove slowly, so our bus reached Hyderabad late.
   b) If the driver ____________________
4. a) Sreenath is the most industrious boy in the class.
   b) No other boy ____________________
5. a) India is a vast country. But Indians are poor.
   b) Though ____________________
6. a) The watch has been found. It was stolen yesterday.
   b) The watch ____________________
7. a) There was no electricity. They decided to postpone the meeting.
   b) since there was ____________________
8. a) He is a priest. He also a doctor.
   b) He is not only ____________________
9. a) As soon as she heard the news, they started off.
   b) No sooner ____________________
10. a) He is very rich , stile he is not contended,
    b) In spite of ____________________

VI. Parts of speech :

1. What is the reason for his behavior?
2. There was great uproar in the parliament over the bill, but still the bill passed.
3. You should have confidence in yourself.

VII. Sentence endings.

1. How do you do it I have an understanding with a horse.
2. Excellent you have got good marks in S.S.C exams do you take MPC or Bi.P.C
3. Are you crazy we will be late please walk fast we should not make a fool of ourselves.

VIII. Correction of sentences. 
1. He was asking me whether I was possessing a cheses. 
2. One of my friend is coming this evening . 
3. There is no place in this bus. 

Question and Answers 

1. 'I ran across a dim photograph of him the other day'. 'He's been dead ……' If you didn't know that the story is about a dog, who would you think he was? Throughout the story Thurber treats Rex as a person-a companion. 
   A. If I did not know that the story is about , I would rather think "he" was a member of Thurber 's family . In fact, the author treats Rex as a person as-a companion. 
2. Do you think the brindle eye and the brindle saddle and the brindle stocking had made Rex look handsome? or did they make him funny - looking ?what did james ( Thurber ) himself think? 
   A. The brindle eye and the brindle saddle and the brindle stocking made Rex funny-looking . But James Thurber thought that there was a nobility about Rex in spite of his funny looking. 
3. The brindle eye made Rex look sometimes like one person and sometimes like another . who are the two persons Rex looked like? 
   A. The brindle eye made Rex look sometimes like a clown and sometimes a politician with a derby hat and cigar 
4. What effect does the bringing together of these two persons have? 
   A. It produces a strong mental Image. 
5. How long was the wooden rail Rex was required to bring in the rail first? how wide was the gate ? How did he get in the attempt ? Did he given up? What did he learn to do then ? Two other qualities of Rex are brought out by the wooden - rail incident what are they ? 
   A. The wooden rail was ten foot long. The gate was only four feet wide . Rex first tried to bring in the rail in broadside. He got a few terrific jolts in the attempt but he did not given up. Eventually , he learnt to do it by dragging the rail, holding on to one end.
   Rex was relentless and single-minded. He had enormous self-confidence and dogged determi- nation. 
6. Rex was a tremendous fighter. But he was different from other dogs in several ways what were they? 
   A. Rex was a tremendous fighter, He was noble. He never started fights. If he was drawn into a fight. He would go to the war of his opponent but not the throat . He would hold on to the ear for hours . He was a fighter but not a killer. 
7. How was Rex different from other dogs? 
   A. Rex never lost his dignity even when he was trying to achieve challenging tasks, He never gave up trying and nothing was impossible for him. He never started fights. He never went for the throat of other dogs.
   Instead, he used to catch hold of the ear. but one he caught it, he could hold it on for hours. He never bit a person but barked only at prowlers. He never went for those things which were of no use to him. Thus Rex was quite different from other dogs. 
8. Describe Rex briefly. 
   A. Rex was an American bull terrier. He had one brindle eye, and a brindle stocking on a hind leg. He was big and muscular and beautifully made. He accomplished even extravagant tasks in a dignified manner. He was a tremendous fighter but he never started fights, swimming was his favorite recreation. He even died a heroic death. 
9. Describe Rex's longest fight in east main street in Columbus. What were the several attempts made to separate Rex and his opponent?
   A. It was a fight that lasted from dusk until it was pitch dark in east main street, in Columbus Rex's opponent was a large dog. He got the ear grip of the other dog and held on. The Negro swung them in the air and threw them but Rex did not leave his grip. Their flight blocked the traffic. A motorman tried to open Rex's jaws with a switch rod. somebody held a burning torch at his tall but of no use. Finally the oak street fire department arrived on the scene and separated them by turning on them a powerful stream of water. 
10. What kind of attempts were made to separate Rex and the nondescript dog? 
    A. When Rex entered on a fight with the nondescript, the owner of the latter picked them up , swang them around his head and threw them so that they landed ten feet away with a great plump but Rex still held on . A motorman tried to force his jaws with a switch rod. Somebody started a fire and made a torch of a stick and held that to Rex's tall . Finally the oak street fire Department turned a powerful stream of water on them and separated them. 
11. "But he (Rex) had a gentle disposition" Two pieces of evidence are offered to support the statement. What are they? 
    A. Rex had a gentle disposition. He never started a fight. he barked only at prowlers but not at passers by. He never chased a squirrel nor ran barking after wagons or automobiles as he knew they were beyond his reach. 
12. "He had his own philosophy about such things". What was Rex's philosophy about such things? In the snap short of a Dog why weren't wagons a part of his world? 
    A. Rex's philosophy about charging things was never to chase anything he could not catch or something he could not do anything even if he caught it. Wagons were not a part of his world because he knew he could not tug along the wagons even with his mighty jaws. 
13. Why did Rex bring a chest of drawers home? What did the brother do with it the next day? Why? 
    A. Rex brought a chest of drawers home one moonlit night. It presented a nice problem in transportation to him and it tested his mettle. The next day the brothers curled the chest miles away and threw it out or else Rex would bring it again as a small token of his integrity. 
14. Thurber says "I am glad Rex never saw a trained police dog jump" Why? Why does he says about Rex as an amateur jumper? 
    A. Thurber says that Rex was just an amateur jumper but the most daring and tenacious. Had he seen a police dog jump, he would have tried to do the same not caring for the outcome. So, the brothers were glad that he had never seen a police dog jump. 
15. What was the immediate reason for Rex's death? what does it tell us about human beings? Did Rex given up easily even when he was dying? 
    A. The immediate reason for Rex's death is that he had received a terrible beating, perhaps from the owner of same dog that he had got into a fight with. It tells how merciless human beings are towards animals. But Rex did not given up easily even he was dying. 
16. He licked at our hands and staggering, fell, but got up again? Why did Rex get up? How long did Rex fight death? Can you explain the expression straight arming the death angle? 
    A. One of his three masters was not at home. So Rex got up and waited for him to came. Rex fought death for an hour. The expression strait arming the death anger means that Rex was brave enough to fight even with the death angel single-handed and that the latter died a heroic death. 
17. In "the snapshot of a Dog " who was Rex waiting? for? how did that person come through the gate? Why did he stop whistling? 
    A. Rex lived with the Thurber brother for ten years. At last his end come after a terrible beating from the owner of same other dog. He came through the gate and was dying. He saw that one of his three masters was missing. He began to took for him. At last that person came through the gate joyfully whishing. The moment he was Rex he stopped whistling. Rex walked towards him. Touched his hand with his muzzle and fell down dead.
18. How does James Thurber describe Rex? 
    A. Rex was their pet dog. He was a white American null terrier . He had a brindle eye, a brindle saddle and also a brindle stocking on a hind leg. He was big and muscular. He was as powerful as a wrestler and he never lost his dignity. 
19. What does Thurber say about Rex as a fighter? 
    A. Rex was a tremendous brighter but he never started fights though he came from a line of fighters. He never went for the throat of another dog. He would only catch the ear, close his eyes and hold it on for hours. 
20. How did Rex's fight with the neighborhood dog end? 
    A. One day Rex had a fight with the neighborhood dog. It was a fierce light. Nobody could stop it. Somebody sent for the fire department. The fireman arrived. They turned on the dogs a stream of water. Rex held on for a long time. When the stream of water hit him repeatedly, He let the other dog go. The fight ended thus. 
21. How was Rex's mettle tested? 
    A. The three masters wanted Rex to carry a ten feet wooden rail through a four feet wide gate. They would throw a baseball as high as possible and order him to catch it. They would let him go over high walls and fences.
    
    KEY :-I.
    1. stocking : a band of colour extending up to the knee
    2. tranquil : peaceful
    3. extravagant : beyond what is reasonable
    4. buffet : strike repeatedly
    5. disposition : general tendency of character
    6. prowlers : persons who move about house with intention to steal
    7. strenuous : needing great effort
    8. turmoil : disturbance
    9. mettle : spirit and courage
    10. integrity : firmness of character on principle
    11. tenacious : stubborn
    12. torrent : violent stream
    13. terrier : a kind of small and active dog
    
    II.
    1. c
    2. c
    3. c
    4. a
    5. b
    6. b
    7. d
    8. c
    9. a
    10.a
    
    III. 
    1. Quivered
    2. Astonished
    3. Extravagant
    4. Staggering
    5. Recreation
    6. Paws
    7. Magnificent
    8. Eventfully
    9. Writhing
    10.Dispersed
    
    IV. 
    1.extravagant
    2. accomplish
    3.wagging
    4. tremendous
    5.despite
    6. neighbour
    7. turmoil
    8.admirers
    9.torrent
    10. fought
    
    V. 
    1. has been punished by the teacher
    2. asked him when he had come to Hyd.
    3. had no driven slowly, bus would have reached Hyderabad.
    4. is as industrious as sreenath
    5. india is a vast country, Indians are poor
    6. which was stolen yesterday has been found
    7. No electricity, they decided to postpone the meeting
    8. a priest but also a doctor.
    9. did she hear the news than they started off.
    10. being rich, he is not contended
    
    VI. 
    1. Is-verb, reason-noun, his-adjective, behavior-noun
    2. Great-adjective, over-preposition, still-adverb, passed-verb.
    3. You-pronoun, confidence-noun, in-preposition, yourself-pronoun
    
    VII. 
    1. It (?) horse (.)
    2. Excellent (!) exams (.) Bi.P.C (?)
    3. Crazy (?) fast(.) our selves(.)
    
    VIII. 
    1. He asked me whether I possessed a chisel.
    2. one of my friends is coming this evening.
    3. there is no room in this bus

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