UNIT 1

Q1. What is the process of ‘toasting’ of English

language, according to R.K. Narayan?

Ans: R. K. Narayan uses the word “toasting’ to

mean the difference the English language has
undergone in the many parts of the world where it
is spoken, particularly in America. Even though
the English language emanated from the British
Isles and thus remains the property of the English
people, Americans who have inherited it, have
changed it to suit their context and taste. So
American English is not as formal as the English
spoken in England.
It has undergone the process of ‘toasting’.

Q2. Why does the author label the word ‘Check’ as

the ‘American National Expression’?
Ans: The author says the word ‘Check’ in British
English has only one meaning; they use it as it is
defined in the dictionary, as a verb. However, the
Americans have devised multiple meanings for the
word ‘check’. So, in American English ‘check’ could
mean ‘find out/investigate’ or a ‘ticket/token’.
‘Check room’ is where one leaves one’s
possessions; ‘check girl’ is a person who takes
care of a coat/umbrella, ‘check in and check out’
mean the time one arrives at a hotel and departs
from the hotel respectively. So, the word ‘check’
qualifies to be called the American National
Expression because Americans use it to mean
many things in many contexts.

Q3. How are questions used as suggestions in

English?
Ans: R. K. Narayan says people in England use the
English language in many interesting ways. For
instance, if you go into an office to meet a busy
man seeking a personal meeting with him, his
secretary takes your visiting card and asks you
politely if you would like to wait. Even though this
appears to be a question, it is a suggestion for you
to wait patiently until you are given an
appointment. It is not a question because an
answer is not expected or sought from you. You
have no option but to wait until you are called. It
is a suggestion in the mask of a question.

Q4. What is the author’s attitude in this essay?

Comment on the tone and style of the essay.
Ans: R. K. Narayan’s essay ‘Toasted English’ is an
essay that brings a smile upon your lips when you
read it. It does not have the force of ‘hilarity’ or
the strength of a pure ‘comedy’, but it has a tone
of a bemused onlooker that is unmistakable and
that he shares with his readers. He makes the
readers appreciate the creativity and
inventiveness the Americans have used upon the
English language to customise it, to suit their
requirements and taste. R.K. Narayan is known for
his simple and easy to understand style of writing
and that makes him one of the most loved authors
around the world, even today.

UNIT 2

Q1) Describe Sudha Murty’s first experience of

gender discrimination.
Ans. Sudha Murty was pursuing her post
graduation in computer science and staying in the
ladies’ hostel at the IISc campus. She was looking
forward to going abroad to complete a doctorate
in computer science. One day, while on her way to
her hostel from the lecture hall complex, she saw
an advertisement on the notice board. It was a
standard job-requirement from the famous
automobile company TELCO. It stated that the
company required young, bright engineers,
hardworking with an excellent academic
background. But at the bottom of the
advertisement it was written ‘Lady candidates
need not apply’. Sudha Murty read it and felt very
upset and that was the first time she experienced
gender discrimination.

Q.2. Convey in your own words what Sudha Murty

wrote in her postcard to JRD Tata. What reply did
she receive?

Ans-Tatas have always been leaders. They started

the infrastructure industries in India, such as iron
and steel, textiles and locomotives. They have
always shown interest in higher education in India
and established the prestigious Indian Institute of
Science. I have had the good fortune to study
there. But I am surprised that a prestigious
company like Telco is discriminating on the basis
of gender.
The reply which she got was that the reason they
had never employed any ladies on the shop floor.
He said that their company was not a co-ed
college; it was a factory. He appreciated her
bright academic record but said that people like
her should work in research laboratories.

Q.3. Summarise what happened during Sudha

Murty’s interview at TELCO.

Ans. Sudha Murty went to the interview with the

thought that she will not get selected for the Telco
had clearly mentioned in the advertisement that
‘Lady candidates need not employ’. She reckoned
that the panel would be biased and hence spoke
rather impolitely. The reason the ladies were not
employed as it was a factory job. They suggested
Sudha that she should work in research
laboratories. Sudha replied that Telco must start
somewhere otherwise no woman would ever be
able to work in factories. After a long interview
Sudha was successful and she was posted in Pune
at Telco.
[Link] Sudha Murty’s feeling about Pune,
and the impact that moving to Pune has had on
her life.

Ans. Sudha Murty was successful in the interview

and posted in Pune. The city changed Sudha
Murty’s life in many ways. She met a shy young
man from Karnataka who became good friends
and later got married. After joining Telco Sudha
realized how JRD was the uncrowned king of
Indian industry. Her life changed a lot after joining
Telco and realized how much freedom and liberty
does women gets living in Pune. After few years
Narayan Murty started his own company Infosys
and Sudha Murty had to leave Telco to join her
husband. She was reluctant to leave Telco but had
no other option.
UNIT 3

Q1. With reference to this essay, mention two ways

in which online learning can aid students and
teachers.

During the COVID – 19, online education has

proved very helpful in bridging the physical
distance between the students and instructors
through internet technology. To a major extent, it
could address the educational needs of the
learners. The so far traditionally trained teachers
who were teaching in physical classrooms put their
sincere efforts in switching from physical
classroom teaching to online mode of instruction.
They were successful in sending the recorded
lectures digitally, posting videos and creating
breakout rooms for active discussions with the
learners.
Through online mode, learners got the advantage
of connecting to their instructors during times of
their choice and also could overcome the
geospatial barriers to traditional classrooms.

Q2. What do the authors mean by the phrase

‘learning to learn online’?
The authors of this unit are working professors
and scholars at Athabaska University in Canada.
By the phrase, ‘learning to learn online’, they
meant that the online approach which is
highlighted after the pandemic does not always
address all the needs of the students unless they
are given a proper orientation on how to learn
online. They have observed that different learners
react in different ways to online mode of
instruction. According to them, the younger
learners who showed interest in socializing were
willing to have physical classrooms, whereas the
adult learners would react in a different way as
they see a great advantage of connecting to their
classmates and instructors online during times of
their own choice.

Q3. How is the design of an online course different

from that of a traditional in-person course? (Or,
what should be kept in mind to design a
meaningful and effective online course?)
The course material whether designed for online or
traditional mode of education, should cater to the
needs of all the learners. The design of the
material should be able to keep the learners active
and engaged individually as well as in collaborative
groups during the course of teaching. The material
design for online education should be content-
centered rather than learner centered.
Designing of successful online course material is
not only a time taking process but also it involves
the efforts of both the instructors and the skilled
course developers. The course design should
incorporate everything that is expected to be
delivered in general in the physical classrooms.
Latest technological tools should be combined with
the online teaching techniques to enhance the
learning capabilities of the students.

Q4. What was the virtual co-operative programme

started by Athabaska University?
During the pandemic, a virtual co-operative
programme has been initiated at Athabaska
University to improve the student learning
outcomes outside the traditional classrooms.
Through this, the learners could access a
simulated work experience at a gradual pace
irrespective of their physical locations. Using this
programme the learners could work in teams in
order to solve problems and to address various
other issues. This programme also helped in
enhancing the leadership qualities among the
students. Furthermore, while working on their
projects, the learners were able to receive instant
feedback from an AI coach which allowed them in
doing more experiments and master their
concepts. If planned carefully, the virtual co-
operative programme can make the education
more accessible.
Unit 4

1. How has the Indian civilization managed to

survive the different forces of change?
[Link] civilizations developed on this planet
but only a few which had a vision of the

future and could adapt to change survived. India

is a country with a population of a billion who

follow diverse cultures, multi languages and

multi-religions. The spirit of unity in diversity has

strengthened Indian civilization. Our civilization

accepted and absorbed the dynamic changes of

multicultural impact. Ancient philosophers, and

great thinkers, who have produced epics like the

Mahabharata and the classics such as Thirukkural,

Kabirvani and Narayaneeyam, contributed to

the survival of the Indian civilization. Later, Indian

civilization has been enriched by the
 contributions of great scientists, technologists,
economists and sociologists

2. What are Kalam’s favourite books, and how

have these influenced him?

Ans. Kalam was a great lover of books and a

vivacious reader. He enjoyed reading any book,
but he had some favourite books. “Light From
Many Lamps” which he considered as a close
companion for more than five decades pacified him
when he was in problem and balanced his thinking
process when he was in ecstasy. The second book
was Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural. Kalam had great
respect for the book as it enlightens the human
mind with its code of conduct for life and breaks
the barriers of the narrow concept of a nation,
language, religion, and culture. The third book is
“Man the Unknown” by Dr. Alexis Carrel, a doctor
turned philosopher and a Nobel Laureate. The
book highlights how, in an ailment, both the mind
and the body need to be treated as the two are
integrated.

3. Why should children be encouraged to read

books?
Ans. Books are best companions during our life
journey and continue to guide the next generations
as well. They are a source of inspiration and
provide a route map to transcend beyond the
world. Albert Einstein could explore universal
truths just with the help of a little book on
Euclidean plain geometry. The works of eminent
thinkers and writers inspire the younger
generation and produce great leaders.
They enlighten the heart and spirit of mankind
and make them realise that weakness and despair
can be conquered with ‘indomitable spirit’. Books
enrich the knowledge of the youth who in turn can
transform the society into a knowledge society.
Hence, children should be encouraged to read
books.

4. What is the power of drama and films on

human lives?
Ans. Artists and scientists are heroes of the
imagination or of the deep insight into the nature
of things and of society. Filmmakers have
sufficient power to impact the minds of the young
population. Drama and films directly impact
human lives specially the younger generation.
They act as a binding force and elevate human
mind and spread the breeze of happiness. They
add some spice to life and are great
antidepressants. Abdul Kalam believed that music,
dance, drama and films can be one of the tools for
controlling terrorism as they cut the barriers of
language and unite people. They help in
preserving, propagating and developing the age-
old cultural traditions. Drama and films are great
forms of entertainment and mediums for
conveying messages to the people. Watching a
movie can either make life better, destroy it, or
have a neutral or no impact. Violent films make
people aggressive and dangerous, while good films
and dramas help to learn about ancient times or
fill out some knowledge gaps.
UNIT 5

1. Why did Bagchi’s father never let them ride

in the office jeep?

A. Bagchi’s father refused to use the jeep to

commute to the office and made sure that his
family never sat in the government jeep except
when it was stationary. He reiterated to them that
it was not ‘his Jeep’, but an expensive resource
given to him by the government. He insisted that
he would use it only to tour the interiors and
would walk to his office on normal days.

2. Why did Bagchi’s mother plant gardens

even though they would move often?

A. Neighbours were concerned about Bagchi's

mother going to such lengths to beautify a
government house, even though she would not see
the flowers in full bloom; she planted gardens
because she felt she owed it to the new occupant
to make the place she inherited more beautiful. "I
must create a bloom in a desert, and whenever I
am given a new place, I must leave it more
beautiful than what I inherited," she explained.
3. What was Bagchi’s first lesson in success?

A. Bagchi's mother would go to such lengths to

beautify a government house even though she
would not see the flowers in full bloom; when
asked why she planted gardens she replied “I
must create a blood in desert and wiener I am
given a new place. I must leave it more beautiful
than what I had inherited”. This was the first
lesson in success, that it is not about what you
create for yourself, it is what you leave behind
that defines success.

4. Why did Bagchi have to move to Bhubaneswar?

A. Bagchi's mother developed cataract in her eyes

when he was very young. His eldest brother was
teaching at Bhubaneswar University at the time,
and he was also studying for the civil services
examination. It was decided that their mother
would relocate to Bhubaneswar for the eldest
brother's cooking needs and Subroto would
accompany as an appendage to his mother.
5. How does Bagchi relate imagination to success?

A. Bagchi read the local newspaper to his mother

as she developed cataract. This instilled in him a
sense of belonging to the larger world. During the
1965 war between India and Pakistan, the then-
Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri coined the
phrase "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" and galvanised the
nation in patriotic fervour, which made Bagchi
wonder how he could be a part of the action, so he
decided to protect the water tank, imagining the
spies to poison the water, but the spies ignored
the sleepy town. Nonetheless, this act unlocked
his imagination, he claims that imagination is
everything. If we can imagine a future, we can
create it, if we can create the future, others will
live in it. That is the essence of success.