Vovaging Towards Excellence 4

 Extract No. 04

Page No. 81 [Lines, “As I climbed up ………  companies” ]

Watch this video and have some Fun

https://youtu.be/7Mkaz1CggaY

Read the first activity, read the extract and do all the activities that follow.

A1. Complete :           (02)

Complete the diagram by writing down the tendency of vernacular medium students while speaking English language.

  (This is a practice Activity for students)

            

As I climbed the stairs of my hostel room, my plan was ready in my mind. Normally most of us who are educated in vernacular languages such as Marathi, think in Marathi, before speaking in English, translate it in English and then somehow try to speak out these translated English sentences in an extremely awkward fashion.

I had decided that I would do nothing of this sort. I wanted to achieve excellence. This urge to excel in anything that you try to do has been with me since the childhood. Whether I would succeed in this or not, I always set my aims high. In this case too, I wanted to speak excellent, elegant and fluent English. 

The first thing I did was to start reading English newspapers and English novels. I studied etymology and phonetics and studied the roots of the words and how to pronounce them. I used to stand in front of the mirror and practice speaking, realising my mistakes and correcting them myself all the time and improvising and improving day by day. 

It took about 9-10 months by which time I started feeling quite confident about speaking in English at length with anybody. My fear had vanished and I started feeling at home in my hostel. In my future career, out of 32 years in Information Technology field, I was the Chief Executive or Managing Director or head of Software Company with thousands of software engineers worldwide. During that period I had to give several presentations or negotiate many contracts with the CEOs, Directors or VPs in the US, UK or Australia. I was absolutely at ease at that time. It is only due to the efforts at IIT that I could sign contracts worth millions of dollars worldwide and also run large global software companies.

A2. Describe :            (02)

Describe the efforts made by the writer to improve his English.

1. He started reading English newspapers and Novels.

2. He studied etymology and phonetics.

3. He studied the roots of the words and how to pronounce them.

4. He used to stand in front of the mirror and practice speaking, realising his mistakes and correct them all the time and improving and improvising day by day.

A3. Infer/ Interpret.            (02)                     

I had decided that I would do nothing of this sort. The above statement implies that……………….

A4. Personal Response :.      (02)

“If there is a will, there is a way,’’ Do you think this proverb justifies the above extract.

A5. Language study :.               (02)

1) As I climbed the stairs of my hostel room, my plan was ready in my mind.

(Use As soon as/ No Sooner…than construction and rewrite)

As soon as I climbed the stairs of my hostel room, my plan was ready in my mind

No sooner did I climb the stairs of my hostel room than my plan was ready in my mind.

2) I used to stand in front of the mirror.  (Rewrite the sentence using,” would”)

I would stand in front of the mirror.

3) My fear had vanished.

( Identify the tense used in the above sentence)

Past perfect Tense

4) I could sign contracts worth millions.

(Use be able to and Rewrite it.)

I was able to sign contracts worth millions.

A6. Vocabulary :             (02)

Find out words from the extract which mean the following.

a) Desire =     urge

b) Study of the origin of words = etymology

c) Arrange or workout = negotiate

d) Global = worldwide

Activities prepared by

TUSHAR J BAGWE.

K J SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE VIDYAVIHAR EAST MUMBAI 77

Mobile: 9820928141

E Mail ID tushar@somaiya.edu

Voyaging Towards Excellence 5

 Page No. 81 / 82  [Lines, “ At IIT………  in my life.” ]

Read the first activity, read the extract and do all the activities that follow.

A1. Complete :          (02)

Complete the following sentences choosing the information from the extract.

a) The writer used to see Nobel Laureates at the dining Table at MIT during lunch time.

b) Vincent Cerf invented the basic protocol of (TCP/ IP)  Internet.

c) The writer came in contact with 15/20 brilliant students/researchers/ professors when he was in his 3 RD year.

d) After Mr.Narayan Murthy left Patni, Writer started heading Patni’s Software division.

At IIT I got fairly good marks in my first 2 years. However, a very important thing happened while I was in my 3rd year. I came in contact with about 15-20 extremely brilliant students / researchers / professors from IIT, TIFR and BARC. They included top ranking students from IIT, visiting professors in American Universities, and very renowned mathematicians in the world and so on. I was instantaneously attracted to this group. This friendship had a lasting impact on my life. Until that time I used to consider myself somewhat intelligent. However, after I met my friends in our group, I came to know what real brilliance meant and I realised where I stood. I was actually also very lucky that I came in contact with great people on the global scale early in my life. Later in my life when Mr. Narayan Murthy left Patni to start Infosys, I started heading Patni’s software division occupying the same chair. My Head Office was in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, very near Boston. It was in fact the adjacent building to MIT in America. I had to visit the US every few months in those days. I used to visit MIT during lunch time to meet my friends. There, one could see a couple of Nobel Laureates at the dining table. If you walked for an hour from there, you could reach Harvard Square near Harvard University. I used to visit both of these universities and could talk to a number of Nobel Laureates. During these years I travelled a lot to US, Europe, Japan and Australia and could meet a number of great thinkers and management gurus such as Alvin Toffler, Peter Drucker, C. K. Prahlad, Tom Peters or great technologists such as Vincent Cerf, (who designed TCP/IP which is the basic protocol of Internet). All these discussions with these greats broadened my horizon, and my aims and worldview became global. It taught me humility and made me realise that I had to achieve a lot in life. The lesson in humility and hard work as well as passion for excellence was going to play a very important and vital role in my life.

A2. Describe :         (02)

Describe how the writer was benefited by the discussions with great people.

1. He knew what brilliance meant.

2. He knew where he stood.

3. These discussions with greats broadened his horizon.

4. His aim and worldwide view became global.

5. It thought him humility and made him realise that he had to achieve a lot in life.

A3. Give reasons :          (02)

The writer said that he realised where he stood. Write down the reasons behind his statement.

A4. Personal Response :          (02)

“Man knows by the company he keeps” Do you agree with the view. Justify with suitable examples.

A5. Language study :           (02)

a) I used to consider myself somewhat intelligent.

(Identify the modal Auxiliary used here and also write what does it indicate)

Used to = Habitual action in the past. 

b) I used to visit MIT during lunch time to meet my friends.

(Rewrite the sentence using the Gerund Form of the Underlined word)

I used to visit MIT during lunch time For meeting my friends.

c) All these discussions with these greats broadened my horizon.

(Begin the sentence with,” My Horizon…….”)

My horizon was broadened by all these discussions with these greats.

A6. Vocabulary :                  (02)

Find out words from the extract which mean the following.

a) Adjacent = nearby

b) Honoured with award = Laureates 

c) Procedure =  protocol

d) Modesty = humility

Activities prepared by

TUSHAR J BAGWE

K J SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE VIDYAVIHAR EAST MUMBAI 77

Mobile: 9820928141

E Mail ID: tushar@somaiya.edu

Voyaging Towards Excellence 3

 Extract No. 03

PageNo. 80  [Lines, “I Was quite………  to fight back”]

Read the first activity, read the

extract and do all activities that

follow.

A1.    True or false :        (02)

    State whether the following statements are True or false. Correct the false statements.

a)    The writer studied in convent school and was very fluent in English. (F)

    Correct statement - The writer had his entire education in Marathi.His spoken English was quite pathetic.

b)    The writer wanted to run away back to solapur from Mumbai.(T)

c)    The writer’s joy to join IIT Mumbai did not last for more days.(T)

d)    The senior student, a convent educated boy was very polite with the writer.(F)

    Correct statement. -  The senior student, a convent educated boy was very arrogant and wanted to pull his leg.

    I was quite happy getting into IIT, but my joy was shortlived. At Solapur I had not seen any building which was more than three storeyed. Mumbai however was full of skyscrapers. At IIT, most of the students and professors used to converse in English whereas my English was very poor. I had my entire education in Marathi. My spoken English was quite pathetic. Not only did I have a very weak vocabulary, but, my pronunciation also was terrible and my construction of English sentences very awkward to say the least. Due to all this, I was feeling quite lonely and terrified in Mumbai in general and IIT in particular. I had developed an inferiority complex and wanted to run

away from IIT and even Mumbai. 

    One day, I was sitting at my mess table in the hostel sipping tea when a senior guy came and sat on the chair adjacent to me. He was a convent educated guy with fairly sophisticated English- at least spoken or colloquial English. He was a bit arrogant and wanted to pull my leg. He tried to engage in some conversation with me and started pointing out errors in just about every sentence or everything that I said. After about 5 minutes he walked away after insulting me.

    I felt extremely humiliated and upset. As it is, I was feeling quite depressed and diffident and this incident was the last straw. I was almost broken. I felt out of place there and literally wanted to run away to Solapur that very moment. However, it was only my self-esteem which stopped me. Suddenly, a feeling of determination and strength came over me and gripped me. Despite hailing from Solapur, if I could be a rank holder in the school, college and IIT with many awards in Mathematics, there must be something right with me. Why should I give up? And that too for a silly and small thing like English? I was not to give up anymore, and I was determined to fight back.

A2: Distinguish :                      (02)                       

   Distinguish between the

writer’s background at Solapur and t

background at IIT Mumbai.

A3.    Give reasons :         (02)

    The writer was completely stumped while communicating in English at IIT Mumbai because……….

    His English was very poor. He had his entire education in Marathi. His Spoken English was quite pathetic.     He had a very weak vocabulary. His pronunciation was terrible and construction of English sentences Very awkward.

A4.    Personal Response :     (02)

    Do you think that the medium of learning should be Mother tongue or an International Language ? Write your views in fifty words.

A5.    Language study :          (02)

a)    I was quite happy getting into IIT,but my joy was short-lived.

    (Rewrite the sentence beginning With,” Though/Although….”)

    Though/ Although I was quite happy getting into IIT my joy was short-lived.

b)    My English was very poor.  (Make it Exclamatory)

    How poor My English was!

c)    My spoken English was quite pathetic.  (Make it Exclamatory)

    How pathetic my spoken English was !

d)    Why should I give up ? (Make it Assertive)

    I should not give up.

A6.    Vocabulary :         (02)

   Find out words from the

extract which

mean the following.

a)Unrealistic feeling of inadequacy =

inferiority complex

b)    Advanced = sophisticated

c)    Haughty or rude = arrogant

d)    Very sad = pathetic

Activities prepared by

Prepared by

TUSHAR J BAGWE.

K J SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE VIDYAVIHAR EAST MUMBAI 77

Mobile :9820928141

Email ID : tushar@somaiya.edu

Voyaging Towards Excellence 2

 Extract No. 02

[Line, “This is not………  The same”]

Read the first activity, read the extract and do all the activities that follow.

A1. Complete :            (02)

Complete the following sentences choosing the information given in the extract.

1) The writer developed a problem –solving attitude.

2) If you had secured 1st Rank in the university, you could get an admission into IIT without entrance Exam like JEE.

3) JEE Exam is based on the ability to think logically quickly and rapidly.

4) The writer used to get 100% Marks in Mathematics.

This is not to say that I did not like Science or Mathematics. In fact, I loved these subjects. However, I did not study them only for scoring maximum marks in the examinations. I used to study these subjects or any subject for that matter for its inherent beauty. I found Newton’s law of motion beautiful and Pythagorean Theorem elegant. I loved solving problems of Physics and Mathematics of the 9th standard when I was in the 7th, not to show off, but just because I used to get involved in solving them. I used to love problem-solving and used to enjoy finding out the most elegant method of solving them. Obviously, these problems were not a part of the curriculum, but I enjoyed the whole process. This attitude of looking beyond marks or examinations and to seek joy in solving any challenging problem helped me to develop a ‘problem-solving’ attitude which came handy when I appeared for my IIT entrance (JEE) because this exam is completely based on your problem-solving ability and the ability to think not only logically but quickly and rapidly.

I scored 100% marks in Mathematics in almost all the examinations that I appeared for from my 1st standard until IIT, barring only a few times. I stood 16th in the SSC Board (at that time, this examination was for the whole of Maharashtra, including Nagpur) and I stood 1st in the University in all subjects put together. Those days, you could get an admission into IIT without the entrance test (JEE) if you had secured the 1st rank in the University. Therefore, I did not have to appear for the entrance test to get the admission into IIT, but nobody in Solapur told me about it, for I doubt if anybody in Solapur even knew about this rule. Therefore, I appeared for the entrance examination, and I secured a very good rank in the same. 

A2. Find out :            (02)

Find out the accomplishments of the writer in Mathematics.

The writer loved to solve problems of std 9 th when he was in 7 th std.He used to love problem solving. He scored 100 % marks in Mathematics in almost all the examinations that he appeared for from his 1 st std till IIT Except a few times.

A3. Give reasons :           (02)

The writer developed a problem-solving attitude because  ………………..

1. This attitude of looking beyond marks or examinations and to seek joy in solving any challenging problem helped him to develop a problem-solving attitude which came handy when he appeared for his IIT Entrance JEE.

2. It helped and developed the problem- solving ability and the ability to think logically, quickly and rapidly.

A4. Personal Response :            (02)

Do you believe that Scoring Good marks / grades in the examination is the only purpose of Education. Justify your answer with suitable examples.

A5. Language study :     (02)

1) I did not study them only for scoring maximum marks.

(Rewrite the sentence using the “Infinitive form” of the underlined word)

I did not study them only to score maximum marks.

2) I used to study these subjects.  (Rewrite the sentence using ,”would”)

I would study these subjects.

3) These problems were not a part of the curriculum but I enjoyed the whole process.

(Rewrite the Sentence beginning with,” Though/Although..”)

Though/ although these problems were not a part of the curriculum I enjoyed the whole process.

A6. Vocabulary :             (02)

Prepare a word register for the word,”Science” 

matter, Law, Theorem, Motion, Physics, Method etc.

A6. Vocabulary :             (02)

Find out Antonyms of the following from the extract.

a) Solution x problem

b) Excluding x including

c) Useless x handy

d) Slowly x quickly or rapidly.

Activities prepared by

TUSHAR J BAGWE

K J SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE VIDYAVIHAR EAST MUMBAI 77

Mobile :9820928141

E Mail ID : tushar@somaiya.edu

Voyaging Towards Excellence 1

 Extract No. 01

Page No. 78 [Lines, “I had……… literature”]

https://youtu.be/UadzT-R_tlg

Click this above link to hear a poem by Renowned Marathi poet Late.shree. Mangesh padgaonkar

Read the first activity, read the extract and do all the activities that follow.

A1. Find out : (02)

Find out the expressions that are against the writer’s views and if against correct it.

a) The writer believed that Arts do not play an important role in our life.

(Correct statement - All arts are equally important in our lives than science and Technology)

b) Cultullary,the writer had a rich childhood.

c) Money is everything and it is above all arts, music and literature.

(Correct statement - Money does not mean everything in life. It is necessary, but if at all there is something which enriches our lives.

d) The writer developed his interest in literature and music during his school days.

I had a very simple upbringing. We were a lower middle class family. Our 300 square feet house did not even have basic amenities such as a fan, a refrigerator, a geyser, a dining table or a gas stove; leave alone an air conditioner or a car. It was only when I entered the college that I got a watch and we got a dining table and a gas stove at home. Nevertheless, culturally, I had a rich childhood. Poets like Vinda Karandikar, Mangesh Padgaonkar and Vasant Bapat used to visit our home and for hours I could listen to the discussions about poetry and literature-Marathi and English. They used to talk about Keshavsut, Mardhekar, Shakespeare, Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy. I did not fully understand their discussions in depth, but I was immensely impressed. We also were lucky to have Pt. Kumar Gandharv, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and Pt. Jasraj visit our place and talk about Indian music till late night or sometimes dawn. This is how and why I developed my interest in literature and music during my school days. I did not and even today don’t understand the ‘grammar’ of music, but I began to love it tremendously since then.

Click this link to hear Pt.Bhimsen Joshi 

https://youtu.be/I_QZVQ-3EG8

https://youtu.be/I_QZVQ-3EG

 

Most of the times the  Topics for the  discussion at our home were about music, literature, paintings, sculptures etc. I could listen to the discussions about Van Gogh, Mozart and Michaelangelo etc. It was because of such a milieu around me that I had a firm belief which I still hold that all arts are equally, if not more, important in our lives than Science or Technology. I had learnt from my childhood that money does not mean everything in life. It is necessary, but if at all there is something which enriches our lives and puts meaning to our existence, it is the arts, music and literature.

A2. Complete : (02)

Complete the table by filling up necessary details given in the extract.

POETS Vinda karandikar,Mangesh padgaonkar,vasant Bapat

WRITERS Keshavsut, Mardhekar,Shakespeare,Charles Dickens

MUSICIANS Pt.Kumar Gandharva, Pt.Bhimsen Joshi,Pt.jasraj

PAINTERS van Gog,Mozert,Michael Angelo

A2. Find out : (02)

Find out the expressions that shows that the writer had a poor financial background.

The expressions are  a) 300 square feet house.  b) he did not even have basic amenities.   c)   No fan,   d)   No Geyser ,   e)   No refrigerator,   g)   no dining table, h)   no gas stove etc.

A3. Give reasons : (02)

All arts are equally important in our lives. The writer says this because ………..

A4. Personal Response : (02)

Do you agree with the views expressed by the writer that money does not mean everything in life.

A5. Language study : (02) 

a) I  could listen to the discussions about poetry and literature.

(Use be able to and rewrite it)

I was able to listen to the discussions about poetry and literature.

b) I  did not fully understand their discussions in depth.

(Make it Affirmative)

I failed to understand their discussions in depth.

c) They used to talk about Keshavsut, Mardhekar, Shakespeare.

(Identify the modal auxiliary used In the sentence and also write what does it indicate?)

Used to = Habitual action in the past.

d) I had learnt from my childhood.   (Identify the tense used here.)

Past perfect Tense.

A6. Vocabulary : (02)

Find out words from the extract which mean the following.

a) Social environment = milieu

b) Enhances or improves = enriches

c) Bringing up = upbringing

d) Facilities  =amenities

Activities prepared by

TUSHAR J BAGWE.

K J SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE VIDYAVIHAR EAST MUMBAI 77

Mobile : 9820928141

E Mail ID: tushar@somaiya.edu

Into the wild 5

Extract No 5

( Lines," Saya........the world)

 Read the Extract and answer the activities that follow.

A1. Mind map : (02)

Complete the mind map by writing down what Nature teaches us

This is a practice Activity for

 students.

Saya, Scarface and Pardus, the leopard that lost to Scarface, have also led Shaaz down a different path of discovery. Learning about them and the loss to their habitat has led Shaaz to create the Buffer Conflict Resolution Trust of India (BCRTI). It’s an agency that educates villagers who live on the fringe of the forest on the importance of conservation. “We are in the heart of the man-animal conflict zone,” explains Shaaz. “There is no specifc buffer zone here around Nagarhole. The core area of the forest ends where the fields begin. In dry season elephant and wild boar incursions into fields are very common. Older leopards, like Pardus, who have lost territory in the forest often carry away livestock from villages.” This creates resentment among locals towards the animals on occasions leading to unpleasant situations.

Putting tourist currency to good use, under the BCRTI umbrella, Shaaz provides locals with vocational training, with the aim of educating locals on the merits of conservation and to help them benefit from tourist currency. The visitors at the resort are welcome to volunteer to teach a skills training class of their choice. The acquired skills enable locals to find employment with any of the numerous wildlife resorts in the region, if not in a faraway city.

Madegowda is one such local agriculturist who is trained at BCRTI and is now a certified naturalist employed by ‘The Bison’. “In the past, I’ve lost almost 80 percent of a season’s yield of sugarcane to such animal attacks. I used to hate them. But now I’ve learnt how important these animals are and the value of protecting them,” he says. “I have known these jungles for 35 years. I know where the animals are and I realise I can guide visitors and get paid for it. In a way, the animals are paying me back.”

“The forests have taught me many things. For instance, listening is a sense far more important than sight. You have to switch off your vehicle, sit and listen, for the forest is constantly communicating– through the voices of birds and animals,” he explains. “Tracking an animal also teaches you life lessons. The black panther has taught me patience. But, above all, it has taught me to never stop discovering. There are just so many amazing experiences to learn and share with the world.”

A1. Summarise : (02)

Select two most appropriate statements that summarise the extract.

a) Conservation of wild animals is the key.

b) The extract is a humorous description of forest.

c) We can learn patience, listening, caring, discovering from wild life

d) In Man- animal conflict, man is the winner.

A2. Find out : (02)

Find out the expressions that show that we can learn many things from the forests.

1.  The forests have taught me many things.   2.  Listening is a sense of far more important than sight.  3.  You need to switch off your vehicle, sit and listen for the forest is constantly communicating.  4.  Through the voices of birds and animals.  5.  Tracking of animal also teaches you life lessons.  6.  The Black Panther has taught me patience.  7.  It has taught me to never stop discovering.

A3. Give reasons : (02)

Madegowda says,” The animals are paying me back’.................,..................... the reason behind this statement is In the past, he used to loose almost 90 per cent of a season’s yield of sugarcane to such animal attacks. He used to hate the animals. Now he has learnt that animals are very important and the value of protecting them. He has known the jungle for 35 years. He knows it very well where the animals are and he can guide visitors and get paid for it.

A4. Personal Response :.  (02)

“Trees are the saviours of mankind,”

 Do you agree with the statement justify your answer with suitable examples.

A5. Language study : (02)

a) There is no specific buffer zone here around Nagarhole.( Frame a Rhetorical question)

Is there any specific buffer zone here round Nagarhole?

b) The acquired skills enable locals to find employment with any of the numerous wildlife resorts in the region.

(Rewrite the sentence using the ,’ Gerund form’ of the underlined word)

The acquired skills enable locals in finding employment with any of the numerous wildlife resorts.

c) I used to hate them. ( Rewrite using, “would”)

I would hate them.

d) I have learnt how important these animals are.

( Rewrite the sentence using, Present perfect continuous tense)

I have been learning how important these animals are.

e) I realise I can guide visitors. 

(Replace the modal auxiliary by another showing,” Possibility’)

I realise I may/might guide visitors.

f) You have to switch off your vehicle.

(Replace the auxiliary by another showing ,” Obligation/compulsion)

You must / ought to switch off your vehicle.

g) Animals are paying me back. (Rewrite the sentence beginning with, “I”)

I am being paid back by animals.

h) Tracking an animal also teaches you life lessons. 

(Begin the sentence with,” Life lessons..”)

Life lessons are taught to you by tracking an animal.

i) The forests have taught me many things.

(Rewrite the sentence beginning with,” Many things.)

Many things have been taught to me by the forests.

A6. Vocabulary : (02)

Find out words from the extract which mean the following.

a) Anger = Resentment

b) A person who operates a farm = agriculturist.

c) On the outer edge of = on the fringes of

d) Fight/struggle = conflict

Activities prepared by

TUSHAR J BAGWE

K J SOMAIYA COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND COMMERCE VIDYAVIHAR EAST MUMBAI 77

Mobile 9820928141

E Mail tushar@somaiya.edu