SYBCom Sem 4 Comprehension Passage 6 On Tribal Imagination

 Passage 6

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

On Tribal Imagination    -    G. N. Devy

In contemporary practice, the tribal memory is greatly undermined (damaged). There is a general insistence that tribal children attend schools where non-tribal children attend school, that they use medicines manufactured for others and that they adopt common agricultural practices.

All because the world has very little time to listen patiently to the tribals, with their immense knowledge and creativity. We have decided that what is good for us is good enough for them. In the process we are destroying a rich vein (tradition) of our cultural heritage.

A proper understanding of tribal imagination can add to our literature and art. Indian literature has been burdened (influenced) for the last two centuries by the “perspective imagination” of Western origin. Because our systems of knowledge have been more or less replaced by western systems, the tribal is now the only Indian unaffected by the colonial consciousness.

To pose the question of memory once again may thus help rekindle (revive) our culture. A vast number of Indian languages have yet remained only spoken, with the result that literary compositions in these languages are not considered ‘literature'. They are a feast for the folklorist, anthropologist (study of human society, culture, history) and linguist, but to a literary critic they generally mean nothing.

Similarly, several nomadic (roaming) Indian communities are broken up and spread over long distances but survive as communities because they are bound by their oral epics. The wealth and variety of these works is so enormous that one discovers their neglect with a sense of pure shame (dishonour).

Some of the songs and stories I heard from itinerant (nomadic) street singers in my childhood are no longer available anywhere. For some years now I have been collecting songs and stories that circulate in India's tribal languages, and I am continually overwhelmed by the number and their profound influence on the tribal communities.

The result is that, I can no longer think of literature as something written. Of course, I do not dispute the claim of written compositions and texts to the status of literature; but surely it is time we realise that unless we modify the established notion of literature as something written, we will silently witness the decline of various Indian oral traditions. That literature is a lot more than writing is a reminder necessary for our times.

Questions Answers:

1.     The writer thinks that urban society is doing more harm than good to tribal communities. Do you agree with his point of view?
Yes, I agree with the statement. Urban society forces tribals to change their way of life. Tribals lose their rich culture and knowledge because they are made to follow modern practices in schools, medicine, and farming.

2.     Give two reasons why there is a lack of understanding of tribal imagination among people.

There is a lack of understanding of tribal imagination among people because…

o   People think written literature is more important than oral traditions.

o   Tribal songs and stories are ignored by literary critics.

3.     What are the three issues that Indian literature has?

The three issues that Indian literature has are…

o   It is heavily influenced by Western ideas.

o   It ignores oral compositions from tribal communities.

o   Many Indian languages are only spoken, not written.

4.     Explain in your own words the change in the writer's perspective towards literature.

The major change in the writer's perspective towards literature is that  earlier, the writer thought literature was only written; now, he believes oral stories and songs are also an important part of literature.

5.     Are literary compositions in India mostly oral or written?
Literary compositions in India are mostly oral, especially in tribal and nomadic communities. (Though, there are  literary compositions in India which are in written form also.)

6.     How could the decline of various Indian oral traditions be stopped?
Oral traditions can be saved by collecting and recording tribal stories and songs, and by recognizing them as part of Indian literature.

7.     To what is the writer referring when he says 'a rich vein of our cultural heritage'?
The writer refers to the valuable stories, songs, and traditions of tribal communities, while he says ‘a rich vain of our cultural heritage’.

8.     What does the writer mean when he states, "That literature is a lot more than writing is a reminder necessary for our times"?
The writer means that literature should include oral traditions, not just written works, to preserve India’s cultural diversity.

9.     Point out the suffixes in the following words:
a. Reminder – -er
b. Silently – -ly
c. Insistence – -ence
d. Agricultural – -al
e. Consciousness – -ness

10. Make sentences of your own using the following phrases:

a. To be bound by – The team was bound by a promise to work together.
b. To be overwhelmed by – She was overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers.
c. To modify – We need to modify the design to make it better.
d. To undermine – His actions will undermine the trust of his team.

11. Write a paragraph about interacting with classmates from tribal communities:

while we talk to our classmates who belong to a tribal community. We come to know about their traditional festivals, songs, and stories. Their festivals focus on nature and are full of colorful dances and music. Their stories are about bravery, wisdom, and respect for nature. We also learn some words from his language, which were very unique. It is interesting to see how they preserve their culture through oral traditions. We can realise that their heritage is very rich and must be respected.

 

SYBCom Sem 4 ACSE Comprehension Passage 5 On Superstitions

 Passage 5

Read the paragraph and answer the questions that follow.

On Superstitions    -    A. G. Gardiner

It was inevitable that the fact that a murder has taken place at a house with the number 13 in a street, the letters of whose name number 13 would not pass unnoticed. If we took the last hundred murders that have been committed, I suppose we should find that as many have taken place at No. 6 or No. 7, or any other number you choose, as at No. 13—that the law of averages is as inexorable (unavoidable) here as elsewhere.

But this consideration does not prevent the world remarking on the fact when No. 13 has its turn. Not that the world believes there is anything in the superstition. It is quite sure it is a mere childish folly (foolishness), of course. Few of us would refuse to take a house because its number was 13, or decline an invitation to dinner because there were to be 13 at table. But most of us would be just a shade happier if that desirable residence were numbered 11, and not any the less pleased with the dinner if one of the guests contracted a chill (cold) that kept him away. We would not confess this little weakness to each other. We might even refuse to admit it to ourselves, but it is there.

That it exists is evident from many irrefutable (unquestionable) signs. There are numerous streets in London, and I daresay in other towns too, in which there is no house numbered 13, and I am told that it is very rare that a bed in a hospital bears that number. The superstition, threadbare (out dated/old) though it has worn (less believable/worn out), is still sufficiently real (still hold some belief) to enter into the calculations of a discreet (unsure) landlord in regard to the letting qualities of a house, and into the calculations of a hospital as to the curative properties of a bed. (Even though some superstitions are not logical or scientifically supported, they still affect people's decisions in practical situations, like renting a house or choosing medical equipment.)

In the latter case general agreement would support the concession to the superstition, idle (pointless) though that superstition is. Physical recovery is a matter of the mind as well as of the body, and the slightest shadow on the mind may, in a condition of low vitality, retard (slower down) and even defeat recovery.

Florence Nightingale's almost passionate advocacy of flowers in the sick-bedroom was based on the necessity of the creation of a certain state of mind in the patient. There are few more curious revelations (discloser) in that moving record by M. Duhamel of medical experiences during the war, like the case of the man who died of a pimple on his nose. He had been hideously mutilated (horribly injured) in battle and was brought into hospital a sheer wreck; but he was slowly patched up and seemed to have been saved when a pimple appeared on his nose. It was nothing in itself, but it was enough to produce a mental state that checked the flickering (shaky) return of life. It assumed a fantastic importance in the mind of the patient, who, having survived the heavy blows of Fate, died of something less than a pinprick. It is not difficult to understand that so fragile (delicate) a hold of life might yield (generate) to the sudden discovery that you were lying in No. 13 bed.

Questions:

1.    The author says superstitions are:
The author says superstitions are mere childish foolishness (folly).  Even though some superstitions are not logical or scientifically supported, they still affect people's decisions in practical situations.

2.    In which city is the number 13 not used for streets, hospital beds, and houses?
a. London

3.    What is meant by 'weakness' in the first paragraph?
The word "weakness" refers to the subtle (small) fear or discomfort people feel about the number 13. They might not admit it, but they feel better avoiding anything related to this number.

4.    Discuss the superstitions associated with the number 13.
People think the number 13 is unlucky. Some avoid living in houses numbered 13 or sleeping in bed number 13. Many buildings or hospitals skip this number to make people comfortable. Because people have the fear about number 13 and it is believed that number 13 brings bad luck.

5.    Can we do away with all established superstitions? Justify your answer.
It is hard to end superstitions because they are part of traditions and beliefs. Some superstitions stay because they affect people’s thinking. However, education and logical thinking can help reduce their influence. Some superstitions, like those affecting health and safety, should be discouraged as they can cause harm.

6.    Write a note on some of the superstitions you know of.

Many people in India, believe breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck. Some believe that a black cats crossing the road bring bad luck. Some people avoid cutting nails at night. Some avoid starting important tasks on certain days, like Tuesday, because they think it brings failure. Many people believe that the number 13 is unlucky. Such beliefs are often followed without any real evidence.

7.    Point out two words in the passage that have prefixes:
Inevitable, irrefutable

8.    Write down synonyms of the following words:
a. Numerous – Many
b. Discreet – Careful
c. Revelation – Discovery
d. Hideous – Horrible
e. Mutilated – Damaged

9.    Make sentences of your own using the following phrases:
a. Contract a chill – She contracted a chill after walking in the rain without an umbrella.
b. Passionate advocacy – Her passionate advocacy for clean energy inspired many to adopt solar power.

SYBCom Sem 4 ACSE Comprehension Passage 4 Spoken English and Broken English

 Passage 4

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Spoken English and Broken English   -  George Bernard Shaw

I am now going to address myself especially to my foreign hearers. I have to give them another warning of quite a different kind. If you are learning English because you intend to travel to England and wish to be understood there, do not try to speak English perfectly, because, if you do, no one will understand you. I have already explained that though there is no such thing as perfectly correct English, there is presentable English which we call "Good English"; but in London nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand people not only speak bad English but speak even that badly. You may say that even if they do not speak English well themselves, they can at least understand it when it is well spoken. They can when the speaker is English; but when the speaker is a foreigner, the better he speaks, the harder it is to understand him. No foreigner can ever stress the syllables and make the voice rise and fall in question and answer, assertion and denial, in refusal and consent, in enquiry or information, exactly as a native does. Therefore, the first thing you have to do is to speak with a strong foreign accent, and speak broken: that is, English without any grammar. Then every English person to whom you speak will at once know that you are a foreigner, and try to understand you and be ready to help you. He will not expect you to be polite and to use elaborate grammatical phrases. He will be interested in you because you are a foreigner, and pleased by his cleverness in making out your meaning and being able to tell you what you want to know. If you say, "Will you have the goodness, Sir, to direct me to the railway terminus at Charing Cross," pronouncing all the vowels and consonants beautifully, he will not understand you, and will suspect you of being a beggar or a confidence trickster. But if you shout, "Please! Charing Cross! Which way!" you will have no difficulty. Half a dozen people will immediately overwhelm you with directions.

Even in private intercourse with cultivated people you must not speak too well: Apply this to your attempts to learn foreign languages, and never try to speak them too well. And do not be afraid to travel. You will be surprised to find how little you need to know or how badly you may pronounce. Even among English people, to speak too well is a pedantic affectation. In a foreigner it is something worse than an affectation; it is an insult to the native who cannot understand his own language when it is too well spoken. That is all I can tell you: the record will hold no more. Good bye!

Questions:

1.  When will an English person help a foreigner?
An English person will help a foreigner when the foreigner speaks with inaccuracy, with a non-native strong foreign accent and imperfect broken English; English without grammar.

2. What action of the foreigner is an insult to the native of England?
Speaking English too perfectly is seen as an insult because it makes natives feel uncomfortable. They feel it as an insult while they are unable to understand their own language when spoken so well.

3. State whether the following are true or false:
a. A foreigner should not try to speak English perfectly when in England.                 – True
b. According to the writer, a majority of people in London speak good English.                   – False
c. A foreigner should be afraid to travel in England.      – False
d. There is no perfectly correct English.      – True
e. An English person is pleased when he meets a foreigner.    –    True

4. What is common between the English person on the streets of London and the cultivated class?
They find it hard to understand foreigners who speak English too well and they expect simpler, broken English. They will not expect you to be polite and to use elaborate grammatical phrases. 

5. The English person will suspect a foreigner of being a beggar or a confidence trickster if...

...the foreigner speaks English too politely and with perfect pronunciation.

6.  Add a suffix to the word 'travel' to mean 'one who travels':
      Traveler

7.  Point out the word the writer uses to describe the sophisticated class:
     Cultivated

8.  Make a sentence of your own using the word 'affectation'(exaggeration):
Her British accent was clearly an affectation, as she had never lived in England.

9.  One of the sentences in the passage lists out words and their opposites. Write down the two sets of words:
    Ans: Opposite words in the passage:  Rise and fall, question and answer, assertion and denial, refusal and consent

10.  "To give someone a warning" is a collocation in the text. Look up three collocations in the dictionary pertaining to the word 'warning' and make sentences of your own using them:

Answer: 1. Issue a warning – The teacher issued a warning to the noisy students.   2. Ignore a warning – It is dangerous to ignore a warning about bad weather.  3. Sound a warning – The lifeguard sounded a warning when the waves grew stronger.

11.  Do you think the writer is prejudiced against the English and their language? Give reasons why you think so:

No, the writer is not really prejudiced against the English and their language.  But the writer seems critical of how English people react to foreigners speaking good English. He mocks their inability to understand their own language when spoken well.

12. Write your response (in about 50 words) to the writer's criticism of the people of England at their reaction to a foreigner speaking 'good English':
The writer’s criticism focuses on a cultural oddity, not a serious flaw. It shows that English speakers like simplicity in communication. The writer criticizes how English people react to foreigners who speak good and perfect English. He mocks their inability to understand their own language when spoken well. It may seem strange, but it is a fact that a native speaker saws a willingness to help a foreigners who make an effort to speak their language, even if imperfectly.

SYBCom Sem 4 ACSE Comprehension Passage 3 Sons

 Passage 3

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Sons    -     Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar

On the day the stork chick died, Kalpana-di--my father's niece--visited us in the evening. By then, the death had been forgotten, and my siblings and I were laughing and joking with each other again. Viewed from a far, Kalpana-di led the sort of life any woman would have envied--she had a good husband, family, and plenty of money. Yet, by then, the bliss was souring, and she would visit us and share her troubles.

Kalpana-di had come to tell us that Suraj, her nineteen-year-old son, was absconding. She needn't have told us. We already knew about it. In fact, the whole town did. Suraj and his friends had tried to stage a robbery and had failed. A day prior to the attempt, Kalpana-di told us, he had asked his father for some money, which had been denied. Hence the robbery.

Kalpana-di's arrival, especially with the news of her absconding son, made us feel strange. We knew Kalpana-di--and her husband as well--were not really endowed with the gift of social nice ties. So, there were very few people she could go to with news like this. And though it relieved us to see that she had actually made the effort to dress up, look good, get into her car, and come to us to share with us a moment of sadness, instead of moping (brooding) alone in some corner of her huge house, her repeatedly claiming that her son had 'run away' failed to fill us with any kind of pity. On the other hand, we started losing any sympathy that we might have had for her and her family.

 "He's your son, Kalpana!" both my siblings and I wanted to tell her. "And you tell us that you didn't know what he was up to? Didn't your resourceful husband even try to track him down? Or is there something you are hiding from us?" In this entire world, it seemed there was only one place you found to come and pretend that you are sad and worried: our house. Right?

I could feel the smouldering (burning) desire inside both my siblings and me to snap at Kalpana-di, to speak the harshest of words to her, to pounce (attack) upon her and tell her that she had been an irresponsible wife and a useless mother. Yet they somehow restrained themselves and kept on piling Kalpana-di with those kind words which were, as they would tell each other later, as insincere as Kalpana-di's story.

Questions:

1. When does Kalpana-di come for a visit?

Kalpana-di comes to visit in the evening on the same day the stork chick died.

2. What impression do you form of Kalpana-di?

Kalpana-di seems unhappy despite having a good husband, family, and money. The narrator has an opinion that, she had been an irresponsible wife and a useless mother. She visits the narrator’s family to share her troubles but doesn't seem very close to anyone socially.

3. What is the narrator's response to Kalpana-di's arrival? How is this also depicted in the passage?

The narrator and siblings feel strange about her arrival. They are relieved she made the effort to visit but during her conversation they lose sympathy when she repeatedly says her son has "run away". She seems insincere to them.

4. Why does the narrator say, "... we started losing any sympathy that we might have had for her and her family."?

The narrator says this because Kalpana-di seems insincere and does not seem to know much about her son or her husband’s actions. They feel she is pretending to be sad and worried. Thus, they started losing sympathy for her and her family.

5. Do you think the narrator's siblings respect Kalpana-di? What makes you think so?

No, the siblings do not seem to respect her. The passage shows they want to snap at her, call her irresponsible, and they also think that her words are insincere.

6. Write in your own words what could have transpired between Suraj and his father before he staged a robbery.

It seems that there is something wrong in the relationship between Suraj and his father. Suraj asked his father for money, but his father denied it. Feeling upset and desperate, Suraj tried to stage a robbery with his friends but failed.

7. Comment on the social and cultural aspects of the community described in the passage.

The community values appearances and family responsibilities. There is a pressure to maintain a good image. People judge each other’s actions. However, relationships lack deep emotional connections.

8. Point out the difference between 'run away' and 'abscond'.

"Run away" means leaving a place, often without telling anyone, usually in fear or distress. "Abscond" means leaving secretly, often to avoid punishment or legal trouble.

9. Find the antonyms of the following words from the passage:

a. succeeded → failed

b. departure → arrival

c. revealing → hiding

d. sincere → insincere

e. need → plenty/enough

10. Make sentences of your own using the following words and phrases:

a. Abscond: The thief tried to abscond with the stolen money.

b. Resourceful: She is very resourceful and can solve problems quickly.

c. Smouldering: His smouldering anger was visible, even though he didn’t say anything.

d. To share one's troubles: It is good to have friends with whom you can share your troubles.

e. To stage a robbery: The gang planned to stage a robbery at the bank.

f. Make the effort: You should make the effort to study regularly to score well in exams.

SYBCom Sem 4 ACSE Passage 2 Youth and the Tasks Ahead

 Passage 2

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Youth and the Tasks Ahead     - Karan Singh

Our freedom was won with great struggle and sacrifice after centuries of servitude to foreign rule. It is essential that those of us who belong to the post-independence generation should not fall into the error of taking our freedom for granted. The maintenance and strengthening of freedom is a task even more onerous(difficult) than its attainment.

In any nation, the youth necessarily forms the vanguard (forerunner) in most spheres of activity. It is essential that at this critical juncture, its power must be mobilized(activate) further to strengthen our integrity and our capacity to resist aggression. What is required is an immense burst of idealism and energy among our youth, who must be deeply committed to the task of safeguarding this great nation of ours founded on the twin ideals of secularism and democracy. In particular, our young men and women studying in schools, colleges, and universities have a special responsibility, for While they are no longer children, they have not yet got fully involved in the routine of adult life. They constitute an immense reservoir of strength which, if properly canalised(guided), can prove to be a source of great power to the nation.

Indeed, it is these young Indians who will soon be called upon to provide leadership in all walks of national life and they must train themselves to fulfil their future responsibilities with distinction(excellence).

I would like to address a few words in particular to our young men and women. If they are to be effective in the service of the nation, it is essential that they must fit themselves in every way for this task. The building up of a vast and pulsating(throbbing) democratic nation is no mean undertaking, and a mere desire to be of service is not enough; it must be accompanied by the ability to do so effectively. There are several distinct dimensions in which our youth must equip itself. The first is the physical. Building a great democracy and defending it from predatory(destructive) aggressors requires a young generation that is physically strong, with muscles of iron and nerves of steel, and for this, it must equip itself by undertaking physical training and developing fitness to the maximum extent possible.

Questions

1. State the message given to the post-independence generation in the first paragraph?

The message is that the post-independence generation should not take freedom for granted. They must understand that maintaining and strengthening freedom is a difficult task that requires continuous effort, even more than the struggle to attain it.

2. What is the meaning of the word 'reservoir' in the phrase "reservoir of strength"? Is this a literal or metaphorical use? Give an example of another use of the word.

The word "reservoir" in this phrase means a large supply or store of strength. This is a metaphorical use of the word, not literal.

An example of a literal use of "reservoir" could be "The town gets its water from the reservoir."

3. List two qualities required in today's youth so that we can keep our freedom.

Two qualities required in today's youth to keep our freedom are :

1.    Immense idealism and energy.

2.        A deep commitment to safeguarding the nation.

4. Describe in your own words the responsibilities that are conveyed to the young men and women.

The young men and women have a special responsibility to safeguard the nation, especially those studying in schools, colleges, and universities. They must train themselves to take on leadership roles in the future and equip themselves in every way to serve the nation effectively.

5. Why do the young need to be physically strong?

The young need to be physically fit to build and defend our great democracy. They have to be physically strong with strong muscles and nerves of steel, to protect the nation from external threats.

6. Add prefixes to the following words:

a. generate – degenerate / re-generate

b. important - unimportant

c. activity – inactivity

d. responsible - irresponsible

7. Make sentences of your own with the phrases given below:

a. Take for granted: We should not take our health for granted, as it can be affected at any time.

b. To mobilise: The organization is trying to mobilize people to vote.

c. At this critical juncture: At this critical juncture in the project, we need to make some tough decisions.

d. To be called upon: The volunteers will be called upon to help during the emergency.

e. In all walks of life: The impact of climate change is being felt in all walks of life, from agriculture to urban planning.

f. To fit in: She worked hard to fit in with the new team and make a positive impact.

8. Give synonyms of the following words:

a. onerous → difficult / burdensome

b. aggression → anger / hostility / antagonism

c. predatory → destructive

d. spheres → domains / areas

9. Find one word for the following from the passage:

a. the state of being a slave → servitude

b. part of a leadership group/pathfinder → vanguard

c. achievement → attainment

d. throbbing → pulsating

10. Rewrite the sentence "There are several distinct dimensions in which our youth must equip itself." beginning with "Our youth...."

Our youth must equip itself in several distinct dimensions.

11. There are some collocations in the passage, like "great struggle". Point out two more and make sentences of your own using them.

Collocations and sentences:

Great struggle:  The workers fought a great struggle for their rights.

National life: The country's youth play an important role in shaping the national life.

Twin ideals: Our nation is built on the twin ideals of freedom and equality.

Special responsibility: As team leaders, we have a special responsibility to guide and mentor our members effectively.

12. How do you want to repay the debt to society?

I want to repay the debt to society by using my energy and skills to strengthen our country. I will help others, work hard, and stay committed to the values of democracy and secularism.

13. What is the role of youth today in developing a strong country?

The youth must be full of idealism, energy, and commitment. They should focus on education, physical fitness, and serving the country. By taking on leadership roles and protecting the nation’s values, they can help build a strong and united country.

14. Write your opinions on your duties to your country.

My duty is to be a responsible citizen who respects the country’s values and laws. I must stay physically and mentally fit, work hard, and prepare myself to protect the freedom that was won through great struggle. It is also important to help others and contribute to the country’s growth in every way I can.

 

SYBCom Sem 4 ACSE Comprehension Passage 1 Work Brings Solace

 Passage 1

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Work Brings Solace(relief)

- A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Flow is an overwhelming (full of enthusiasm/excitement) and joyous experience while working. It is a sensation we experience when we act with total involvement. During flow, action follows action according to an internal logic; there seems to be no need of conscious intervention on the part of the worker. There is no hurry, and there are no distracting demands on one's attention. The distinction between self and the activity disappears.

All of us working on SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) were experiencing flow. Although we were working very hard, we were very relaxed, energetic, and fresh. How did it happen? Who had created this flow? Perhaps it was the fact that the difficult targets we had set actually seemed achievable.

When the SLV-3 hardware started emerging, our ability to concentrate increased markedly (noticeably). I felt a tremendous surge (flow) of confidence. I was in complete control over myself and over the SLV-3 project.

The first requirement to get into flow is to work as hard as you can at something that presents a challenge. It may not be an overwhelming challenge, but one that stretches you a little; something that makes you realize that you are performing a task better today than you did yesterday, or the last time you tried to do it.

Another prerequisite for being in flow is the availability of a significant span of uninterrupted time. In my experience, it is difficult to switch into the flow state in less than half an hour. And it is almost impossible if you are disturbed constantly.

I have experienced this state many times, almost every day of the SLV-3 mission. There have been days in the laboratory when I have looked up to find the laboratory empty and realized that it was way past my work hours. On other days, my team members and I have been so caught up in our work that the lunch hour slipped by without our even being conscious that we were hungry.

Questions:

1. What does the author mean by 'flow'? How is it created?

The author defines "flow" as an overwhelming and joyous experience that occurs when a person works with total involvement. Author says, it is a sensation we experience when we act with total involvement.

During this state, actions follow action naturally, without conscious effort or distraction. Flow happens when the task you are working on is challenging but achievable, and there are no distractions or interruptions.

2. Which project is the author involved in? Do you think he enjoyed being there?

The author was involved in the SLV (Satellite Launch Vehicle) project, specifically he was working on SLV-3.

Yes, the author clearly enjoyed being involved in the project. He says, "Although we were working very hard, we were very relaxed, energetic, and fresh."

3. State the factors connected with flow in a work culture.

The factors connected with flow in a work culture are:

Challenge: The task should be challenging but achievable.

Total involvement: The worker should be fully focused and engaged in the task.

Uninterrupted time: There should be enough uninterrupted time to enter the flow state.

Absence of distractions: There should be no external disturbances or distractions.

Feeling of progress: You should notice that you are performing better today than you did before.

(Sense of control: A feeling of control over oneself and the task is important.)

4. List the requirements to get into the flow of a work.

The requirements to get into the flow are:

Challenge: The task should be challenging but achievable.

Total involvement: The worker should be fully focused and engaged in the task.

Uninterrupted time: There should be enough uninterrupted time to enter the flow state.

Absence of distractions: There should be no external disturbances or distractions.

Feeling of progress: You should notice that you are performing better today than you did before.

(Sense of control: A feeling of control over oneself and the task is important.)

5. Comment on the dedication and work culture described by the author in this passage.

The author shows a strong dedication to the work. He and his team were totally involved in the SLV-3 project, often working without realizing how much time had passed. The author says, "I have looked up to find the laboratory empty and realized that it was way past my work hours." This shows how absorbed they were in their work, indicating a positive work culture with total commitment and teamwork.

6. Explain the phrase 'surge of confidence'. Make a sentence using the phrase.

The phrase "surge of confidence" means a sudden and powerful increase in one's self-belief in their abilities.

Example: After completing the first successful test, I felt a surge of confidence that made me believe we would be able to finish the project in time.

7. Identify the tense in the following sentence: "The distinction between self and the activity disappears." Convert the above sentence into past tense.

The tense of the sentence is Simple present tense.

Past tense version: "The distinction between self and the activity disappeared."

8. Change the voice: "I felt a tremendous surge of confidence."

Passive voice: "A tremendous surge of confidence was felt by me."

9. State the antonyms of the following words:

a. Joyous - Sad, sorrowful

b. Difficult - Easy, simple

c. Experience - Inexperience, ignorance

d. Conscious - Unaware, unconscious

e. Disturbed - Calm, composed

10. Add suffixes to the following words:

a. Flow → Flowing

b. Conscious → Consciousness

c. Concentrate → Concentration

d. Difficult → Difficulty

11. Describe the idea of ‘teamwork’ as you understand it based on the passage.

In the passage, teamwork is about being completely involved in the project, supporting each other, and working together without distraction. The author says, "On other days, my team members and I have been so caught up in our work that the lunch hour slipped by without our even being conscious that we were hungry." This shows how the team was so focused on the mission that they didn’t even notice time passing, which is a sign of good teamwork and shared commitment.

12. How do challenges affect your commitment towards your work? Justify your point of view with an example.

Challenges make me more committed because they push me to improve and do my best. For example, when working on a difficult project at school, the challenge motivated me to study harder and find new ways to solve problems. The more difficult the task, the more determined I became to complete it successfully.

13. Write from your own experience about work that you performed with ‘flow’.

I remember working on a group project where we had to conduct a national level seminar. At first, it felt challenging, but as we worked together, we got into the flow. We were so focused that hours passed without us noticing. On other days, all the team members have been so caught up in the work that the lunch hour slipped by without our even being conscious that we were hungry. It felt amazing to be so involved and see our ideas turn into something real.