3 Dear TTeacher eacher Every father wants his child to get the best education so that the child may one day grow up to be a successful person. But them, everybody has his own perception of success. In this letter to his son’s teacher, Abraham Lincoln requests him to inculcate in his boy the qualities that he feels would be the best. Read the letter and decide if you agree with Lincoln? HE WILL have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel1 there is a hero; that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader. Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend. It will take time, I know; but teach him, if you can, that a dollar earned is of far more value than five pound. Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning. Steer2 him away from envy3’ if you can, teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies4 are the easiest to lick5. Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books. But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hillside. 1. crook 2. guide 3. Jealousy 4. people who used strength or power to frighten or hurt the weaker ones. 5. beat , defeat. 17 In school, teach him it is far more honourable to fall than to cheat. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong. Teach him to be gentle with the gentle, and tough with the tough. Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon6. Teach him to listen to all men; but teach him also to filter all that he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through. Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him to scoff7 at cynics8 and to beware of too much sweetness. Teach him to sell his brawn and brain9 to the highest bidders10, but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob11 and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right. Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient; let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind. This is a big order12, but see what you can do. He is such a fine little fellow, my son! - Abraham Lincoln ge the words given below in the columns according g to the traits,/ qualities they Arrang represent: one is done for you. A. i) envy ii) friendliness iii) quiet laughter iv) hard working v) selfish vi) bullying vii) love for nature viii) cynicism ix) howling x) cheating xi) to laugh when sad xii) wonder of books Positive traits Neg ative traits i) hard working i) selfish ii) ______________ ii) ______________ iii) ______________ iii) ______________ iv) ______________ vi) ______________ v) ______________ v) ______________ vi) ______________ vi) ______________ 6. supporting those principles, candidates etc. that are more popular or most likey to succeed. 7. make fun of, ridicule 8. people who have no faith in human values 9. physical and mental strength 10. those who offer the highest price at an auction 11. crowd 12. difficult demand 18 Dear Teacher B. g the words given below to complete the parag graph: Fill in the blanks using Bidders, odd, laugh, abilities, learn, physical, never, wants Lincoln……………his son to……………to sell his ……………and mental ……………to the highest……………. But he should……………sell his soul. He also wants his son to learn how to ……………even in ……………conditions. A. B. C. g questions in one or two sentences each: Answer the following 1. Who is the writer of this letter? Who is the addressee? 2. Which sentences in the letter suggest that the evil is balanced by the good? 3. How are bullies the easiest to defeat? 4. Select the sentence from the text that suggests Lincoln wanted his son to appreciate nature. 5. Pick up the expression from the text which suggests that Lincoln greatly loved his son. 6. What is worse than failure? g statements from the text: Briefly explain the following 1. …….. a dollar earned is of far more value than five pound. 2. …….. to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are ……...wrong. 3. …….. to close his ears to a howling mob. 4. …….. the secret of quiet laughter. 5. …….. the courage to be impatient: ……. the patience to be brave. What kind of citizen Lincoln wishes his son to become when he asks the teacher to teach him that for every scoundrel there is a hero .Narrate the heroin deeds of a heroic gy. you know in history or mytholog Few, a few, the few Look at the sentences. Lincoln rarely spoke, he was a man of few words. There were very few people left when we got there. I have something to say. May I have a few words with you? A few words of appreciation will motivate him. The few words he spoke were well chosen. The few friends he has are all very poor. Dear Teacher 19 We use ‘few’ with plural nouns. few a few the few not many(i.e. hardly any): ‘few’ has a negative meaning. some ‘A few’ has a positive meaning and is opposed to ‘none’. not many, but all of them. little, a little, the little Look at these sentences. There is little hope of his recovery.(i.e. he is not likely to recover) He has little appreciation of good poetry. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. There is a little hope for his recovery (i.e. he may possibly recover) The little influence that he has, he uses to the best advantage. The little tact would have saved the situation. gular (uncountable) nouns. We use ‘little’ with sing little not much(i.e. hardly any): Thus little has a negative meaning. a little some though not much. A little has a positive meaning. the little not much, but all there is. Exercise: g ‘little’ or ‘few’. Now complete these sentences using 1. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) Very .…..….. people could manage to live on so.…..…..money. I can’t do much I’m afraid. I have so.…..….time. He is very successful even though he has very .…..…..education. I have.…..…..books on science and technology. .…..…..questions were asked after the lecture. g ‘a little ’ or ‘a few’ Complete these sentences using 2. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) 20 Would you like ………..cake? Would you like ………..apples? I have to see………..people this afternoon. I don’t know the answer, but I’ve got………..ideas. If you can spare me………..time, I’d like to make ………..suggestions. Dear Teacher 3. g ‘the little’ or ‘the few’ Complete these sentences using (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) ………..milk that was there in the jug, was used. ………..books that I gave to you were very expensive. Please call………..students, who are there in the class. I have taken………..coffee, left in the thermos flask. Each and every Look at these sentences: Five boys were seated on each bench. I go for a walk every day. Every seat was taken. Each guest shook hands with him. Each and every are used before a singular noun to talk about a whole group. Each is used in speaking of two or more things, and only when the number in the group is limited and definite. Every is used only in speaking of more than two, when the number indefinite. g sentences by filling g in each or every as may be suitable. Exercise : Complete the following (i) It rained………..day during my holidays. (ii) ………..guest watched as the president came in. (iii) ………..one doesn’t read a newspaper. (iv) Joseph is a religious person. He goes to church ………..Sunday. (v) Rashmi gets the train at half past seven………..morning. (vi) There were cars parked along………..street in town. (vii) ………..day seemed to pass very slowly. (viii) The police questioned ………..person in the building. (ix) ………..room of this hotel has a cooler. (x) The sun rises in the east………..day. Both, all, and whole Look at the sentences : All plants need water. All metals are made up of atoms. Both of them serve meals. Dear Teacher 21 I think both styles are rather old fashioned. The baby cried the whole night (=all the time) I’ve spent my whole life waiting for this moment (= all my life) • Technically, all means a number of people or things considered as a group. We can use all before a plural or an uncountable noun. • Both: means ‘one and the other’. We use both for two things. • gular noun. Whole : means ‘all’ or ‘complete’. It is used before a sing Exercise :: Fill in the blanks with all, both or whole whichever is suitable. (i) Natasha answered ………..twenty questions correctly. (ii) We’ll need a………..loaf to make sandwiches for everyone. (iii) I have got two bicycles. ………..of them are quite old. (iv) The building had seven doors. ………..doors were found open in the night. (v) Julie spent the ………..summer at home. (vi) Why do you keep ………..of these clothe? You never wear most of them. (vii) She copied the ……….. lesson. (viii) We should ban cars. ………..cars pollute the air. (ix) Tell me ………..you know. (x) He is ………..an actor and a director. Either and neither Look at these sentences. I haven’t read either of these books. Would you like either of these? Neither of them knew the way. I’ve read neither of these books. Either means ‘the one or the other’. It takes a singular verb and can be used by itself or followed by a noun/pronoun or by of+the/these/those,etc. Neither means ‘not the one or the other’. It takes an affirmative singular verb. It can be used by itself or followed by a noun or by: of + the/these/those/possessive or personal pronouns. 22 Dear Teacher Exercise Insert either or neither wherever necessary. (i) She tried both keys but ……….. worked. (ii) I’ve got two bicycles. I’ve given up cycling, so I don’t ride………..of them any more . ………..of them is in very good condition. (iii) They haven’t met ………..of the twins. (iv) On………..side is a narrow lane. (v) ………..accusation is true. He is sure to be acquitted. (vi) Come on Tuesday or Thursday. ………..day is OK. (vii) I don’t like………..of them. (viii) ………..of my sisters is married. (ix) ………..of them remembers their instructions. (x) Would you like………..of these? I Wish Teacher will ask the students this question one by one: “If you could have one wish what would you wish for?” Here are their wishes. The teacher will read them one by one. Students will classify them after listening attentively and fill it in the table given on the blackboard. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Bittu wished his mom and dad had a nice house. Shilu wished he could swim very fast. Jitu wihsed he could fly like superman. Chris wishedhe had all the money in the world. Ali wished he had a hang glider and a pony. Tonu wished he had a room of hiw own at home. Shanu wished she had a ral living dinosaur. Kiran wished her name was Kate and not Kiran. Bablu wished he was good at Maths. Dear Teacher 23 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Julie wished that theree were no more wars. Anu wished his Nani was still alive. Lila wished she could be the first woman on the moon. Priti wished she had special powers like Wonder Woman. Boby wished he could find out who his real parents are. Mom wished that her son and daughter would stop arguing. At the Library Library assistant(L.A.) and Akash L.A. Akash L.A. Akash L.A. Akash L.A. Akash L.A. : : : : : : : : : Akash L.A. Akash L.A. Akash L.A. Akash L.A. : : : : : : : : Akash L.A. Akash L.A. Pair work : : : : : Good afternoon. What can I do for you, sir? Good afternoon. I’d like to apply for membership of the library. May I know your name and occupation? Oh, sure, I’m Akash Soni. I’ am a student. What’s your area of interest, sir? Physics, Chemistry and Maths. Actually I’m preparing for I.I.T. entrance. We have a very good collection of books on these subjects. How do I enroll myself as a member? Here’s the application form. Please fill it. You’ve to produce your identity card for identification. Oh, sure, I’d do it. What’s the fee? Four hundred rupees annually. How many books can I borrow at a time? Four books and two magazines. How long can I keep them? Three weeks. Do you have a card catalogue? No, Sir…, It’s computerized. You can check the authors and titles on the computer. I see. Is the library open the whole week? Unfortunately not, sir, it is open from Monday to Saturday. O.K. I’ll bring the completed application form tomorrow. Thanks a lot. You’re welcome. Akash wants to enroll himself as a member of a library. Practice the dialogues with your partner and substitute ‘library’ with ‘cricket club’, ‘society’ etc. Make other necessary changes. 24 Dear Teacher g: Letter writing Every one has sometimes to write letters. Letters are messages and there are certain norms that have to be followed in writing them. A letter is generally divided into six parts. The heading. The courteous greeting or salutation. The body of the letter. The subscription. The signature The superscription on the envelope. g to their contents : Letters may be classified according (i) Social Letters : Including friendly letters and notes of invitations. (ii) Business Letters : Including letters of application, official letters and letters to editors. A. ger brother/sister, who is going g to appear for an examinaWrite a letter to your young tion. Given below are some points to help you. • Read the paper carefully. • Tick the questions you are going to attempt. • First do the question you know very well. • Time yourself. • Reread the answer sheet after you have finished. • Write in legible hand writing. B. g idioms. Write five sentences on each of the following • It is far more honourable to fail than to cheat. (A) (B) • To be gentle with the gentle and tough with the tough. • Test of fire makes fine steel. India has parliamentary democracy while the U.S.A. has presidential democracy. Discuss the difference between the two kinds of democracies and powers of their presidents List the names of presidents and vice-presidents of India with their tenure in office. Dear Teacher 25