U NI T

PEOPLE 1
In this Unit...
Discover and share the 'Secret You' by answering a simple personal inventory.
(A) An Exemplary Leader - A biography of an exceptional personality and a few
excerpts from his famous book give an insight into the real person. You will
enjoy the story, develop your vocabulary, and write an e-mail, a story and a
speech.
(B) A Burglary Attempt - Can you help the police solve the mystery of a daring
neighbourhood burglary? Listen to an interview between the police inspector
and some witnesses and write a description of the burglar.
(C) An Abandoned Farmhouse, an empty room - What clues do they give you about
their owners? You will use the language of probability to arrive at conclusions.
Also, write a letter to a friend describing a room-mate you haven't met.
INTRODUCTION
Know and Share Yourself
Complete the personal inventory.

THIS IS ME!

PERSONAL INVENTORY

My name is
____________________________________________

People also call me _____________________________________

My address is __________________________________________

My residential telephone number is _____________________________________

My birthday is on ______________________________________________________

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My family consists of ____________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I am interested in ______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I do not like____________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I have a special friend, his / her name is _________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I am very good at _______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I am not so good at______________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I spend a lot of time ____________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I would like to learn about ______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I would be much better off if ____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I get really happy when__________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
I have a few good habits which are ______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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If I could only change the way I _________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________
Things that I dislike in other people _____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
If I was allowed to help in class, I would __________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
The proudest moment of my life was ____________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Some day I will _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
My favourite television show is ________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
The best movie that I have ever seen is __________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
If I could change anything, I would first __________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
My feelings about my school are _______________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________

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A. AN EXEMPLARY LEADER
A.1. Read the following conversation between two friends.

but

A2. In pairs, discuss the problem Ravi is facing. Do you think Ravi's boss is
right? Give reasons for your answer. Tick mark the qualities that you
feel are desirable in a boss.

trustworthy egoist problem-solving oratory skills

meticulous garrulous ability to take decisions whimsical
calculating willing to take risk

A.3. An e-mail, short for electronic mail, is a ‘store and forward’ method of
composing, sending, storing, and receiving messages over electronic
communication systems. It is the quickest way to communicate in writing.
E-mail messages consist of two major sections:
1. Header consisting of - subject, sender's e-mail id, receiver's e-mail id and date.
2. Body which contains the message. It can be a formal / informal letter depending
on the purpose.
*To be knee deep in something means– 1. to be overwhelmed by something very difficult or troublesome. 2. to have
an excessive or plentiful amount of something.

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Study the following tips on composing e-mails:
Subject
* It should be brief
* It should give a clue about the content of the message
* It need not be a complete sentence
Salutation
Formal-
* Dear Madam/Sir
* Sir/Madam
* Dear Ms./Mr.
Informal-
* Dear…
* My dear…
Opening Statement
* Begin with a pleasantry or a greeting
* When replying to an e-mail: Thank you for your mail/response etc.
Clarity and tone
* When you expect a reply - 'Please let me know'
* When you want help - 'Please' or 'Kindly'
Paragraphs
* A paragraph includes a topic sentence, 2-3 supporting sentences (minimum)
and a concluding sentence.
- Each main idea should ideally be in a separate paragraph.
- Use complete words and sentences. (avoid colloquial terms)

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Complementary Close
Formal
* Dear Madam/Sir or Madam/Sir or Dear Ms. / Mr.
* Regards / Warm regards/ Yours sincerely
* Name
Informal
* With love/affection
* Name
Note: People often choose to just include ‘Regards/Warm regards’ and omit ‘Yours
sincerely’. A very formal e-mail usually requires ‘Yours sincerely’. Both practices are
accepted.

Sender's email
Receiver's email (more than one can be added)

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A.4. Think of an occasion when you participated in a team competition. Think back
on the leadership qualities displayed by your Team Leader/ Captain. Recollect
the specific incidents when those were displayed and how they contributed to
the success of the team.
Write an e-mail to your mentor-teacher sharing this experience.

A.5. AN EXEMPLARY LEADER

Let’s read a short story about an exemplary boss.
Working 12 to 18 hours a day was not uncommon for scientists at the rocket
launching station, Thumba. A group of such scientists was frustrated due to the
work pressure and meeting their boss's demands; however, they were loyal to
him.
One day, a scientist gathered enough courage to go up to his boss and say, "Sir,
I have promised my children that I will take them to the exhibition this evening.
Therefore, I have to leave the office by 5.30 pm. Can I leave early today, Sir?"
His boss replied, "Alright. You may leave early today." The scientist was happy
for having received the permission and continued with his work. He stayed on
to work after lunch, and, as always, got so engrossed in his work, that he peered
at his watch only when he thought he was done. Unfortunately, it was past
08:15 pm.
With a jolt, he remembered his promise to his
children. He looked for his boss who was not in his
office. Having told him just that morning, he
wrapped up his work and hurried home.
As he drove home, he felt very guilty for having let
his children down. When he reached, the children
were not at home. His wife was busy reading. He
felt that initiating any conversation with her would
only add fuel to the fire, so he stayed quiet.
Looking up at him, his wife asked, "Do you want
something hot to drink or would you like to have
dinner right away?"

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The man could only ask, "Where are the children?"
His wife said, "Don't you know? Your boss came here around quarter past five
and took the children to the exhibition you had promised to take them to."
He was surprised, but it did not take him very long to guess what had happened.
The boss who had granted him permission had observed him working very
seriously well past 5.00 pm. He realized that the scientist would not leave the
work half done, but if he had promised his children a visit to the exhibition,
then they deserved it. So, he took the lead in taking them to the exhibition
himself.
The boss did not have to do it every time. But once it was done, loyalty was
established.
No wonder, all scientists at the Thumba continued to work under this boss, in
spite of the great pressure.
This boss was none other than Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

A.6. Following are the eight incidents from the story, but their order is mixed
up. Put them in the right sequence.
(a) The scientist rushed home anticipating the disappointment of his children.
(b) Scientists were working for 12-18 hours a day at Thumba.
(c) The boss consented.
(d) Scientists were under immense work pressure but they were loyal.
(e) A scientist approached the boss for permission to leave at 5.30 pm to take
his children to the exhibition.
(f) To his surprise, he learnt that his boss had kept his appointment for him.
(g) Suddenly, he remembered his promise to his children.
(h) The scientist became so engrossed in his work that he continued working
till 8.15 pm.

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A.7. When we talk about people, we discuss their qualities. The box below
contains some words which can be used to describe people.

unassuming authoritative egoist sympathetic

domineering kind-hearted thoughtful tireless
laborious diligent careless irresponsible
workaholic sagacious tiresome

Work in pairs and select the appropriate words for the following
characters.

The Scientist:

The Boss:

A.8. Based on your reading of the extract, answer the given questions by
selecting the correct options.
As he drove home,… stayed quiet.
1. Choose the option which best reflects the scientist’s thoughts as he drove home.
A) This should never happen again. I should not work late hours.
B) Oh! My boss… does he ever let me go in time?
C) This should never happen again. I should never break my promise.
D) Surely my boss must have taken my children out. I have always been loyal
to him.
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2. Choose the option that DOES NOT evoke the same feeling as when the scientist
‘let his children down’.
A) Sarabjeet gave up trying in spite of promising his father to work hard.
B) Iqbal managed to reach the Railway station just in time to bid his friends
goodbye.
C) As it rained heavily, the football match got cancelled.
D) Mother Nature did not bless the farmer with good rain this year.
3. Select the option that appropriately fills the blank.
initiate : conclude :: ______________ : ______________:
A) evaluate : assess
B) consider : think
C) admire : detest
D) admit : confess
4. Choose the option that lists the correct meanings of ‘adding fuel to the fire’.
1. worsen 2. pacify 3. provoke 4. aggravate 5. conciliate
A. 1, 3, 5
B. 3, 5
C. 2, 5
D. 1, 3, 4

A.9. Answer the questions by selecting the correct options.

1) When the scientist ‘gathered enough courage’ to go up to his boss, he was
A) courageous
B) hesitant
C) confident
D) expectant

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2. Choose the quote that is the most suitable for the text.

A. A good leader leads the people from above them. A great

leader leads the people from within them. – N D Arnold

B. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do

more and become more, you are a leader.—John Quincy Adams

C. Great leaders don’t tell you what to do. They show how it’s
done.

D. A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows
the way. – John Maxwell

3. Pick out the option that is ODD with reference to what the scientists felt at
Thumba.
A) Pressurized
B) Frustrated
C) Loyal
D) Guilty

A.10 Answer briefly

1. “Eustress” or positive stress is defined as stress which enables employees to
perform better and increase their job satisfaction. Relate the above information
to the scientists at Thumba.
2. Validate the scientist’s choice of staying quiet after reaching home.
3. Explain how Dr Kalam was an ‘exemplary leader’.
A.11 Imagine that the incident ended in a different way. Predict the outcome
based on the following lines and complete the given cue.
“As he drove home, he felt guilty for having let his children down. He
reached home, entered the house and saw his wife and children
watching the television…”

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A.12 From Page 159, your teacher or a student will read out a speech by the
honourable former President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, on his
‘Vision for India’. While listening, fill up the following.
a. Select the option that Dr. Kalam HAS NOT mentioned as capturing our country
or mind.
(A) The Portuguese (B) The Spaniards (C) The Turks
b. State the reason why ‘Freedom’ is Dr Kalam’s first vision.
c. __________________ was the speaker’s second bliss.
d. Select the scientist who was succeeded by Professor Satish Dhawan.
(A) Dr. Kalam (B) Dr. Brahm Prakash (C) Dr. Vikram Sarabhai

A.13. The Process of Writing: CODER

In your written work, it is advisable to follow the process outlined below.
(We call it 'CODER' - Collect your ideas; Organise your ideas; make your
first Draft; Edit your work; Revise your work.)
1. C-Collect your ideas
Working in groups, recall and jot down the opinion that the 'scientist' formed of
his boss in A.5.
2. O-Organise your ideas
(a) Now work in pairs. Choose one or two opinions about the boss that you feel
quite strongly about, or agree with.
(b) Also, note down the opinions that you prefer about the scientist.
3. D- make your first Draft
Write the description individually. You may refer to some of the words in the
boxes in A.2. and A.7.
Note: At this stage of your course, you should not worry about the language and
tone of a formal description.
4. E - Edit your work
Now exchange your description with your partner, and suggest improvements
in grammar, spelling, punctuation etc.

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5. R- Revise your work
Rewrite your speech and check it carefully, before handing it to your teacher.
A.14. Now, using the ideas given below, write a speech on 'The Role of Youth
in Realising the Dreams of Dr. Kalam'. (Refer to CODER)
a) fighting for equal rights
b) fighting corruption
c) empowering the masses
d) looking for jobs within the country
e) active involvement in social issues
f) promoting national integration
g) equal participation of women in all fields

B. A BURGLARY ATTEMPT
B.1. We notice lots of details about people and their appearance, but in order
to vividly describe them , we need to be specific. Working in pairs, look
carefully at the people around you and complete the table with
appropriate words from the box given on the next page. You may add
words of your own to describe people.

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angular close-cropped well-tailored casual stocky
elegant unshaven ill-fitting formal lanky
bearded sloppy medium petite hefty
balding slim plaited thick round
open friendly wavy long receding
over weight sharp-featured

A B C D
Face
Hair
Dress
Build

B.2. When we meet people, we notice their faces more than anything else.
The box below contains words which describe the features of a face.
Work in pairs and list them under the appropriate headings. Then add
more words of your own.
twinkling shifty discoloured short oval
pear-shaped large close-cropped broken long
protruding gapped thick pointed wide
fair thin pale swarthy staring
square round untidy close-set neat
wavy upturned

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B.3 Read the newspaper clipping.

Teacher/Student to read out an interview between the Police Inspector,

in-charge of the case, the house-keeper, Ms. Lakshmi, and the watchman,
Ram Singh given at page no 161. As you listen, note down the details of
the burglar.

DESCRIPTION

Built

Height

Clothes

Shape of the face

Complexion

Eyes

Hair

Nose

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Lips

Teeth

Special features

B.4. Taking hints from B.3, write a paragraph describing the burglar.

C. CAN YOU KNOW PEOPLE YOU HAVEN'T MET?

C.1 Is it possible to make accurate guesses about people you have never
met? Read the poem, to see how conclusions can be drawn about people.
Abandoned Farmhouse
He was a big man, says the size of his shoes
On a pile of broken dishes by the house;
A tall man too, says the length of the bed
In an upstairs room, and a good, God-fearing man,
Says the Bible with a broken back
On the floor below a window, bright with sun;
But not a man for farming, say the fields
Cluttered with boulders and a leaky barn.

A woman lived with him, says the bedroom wall

Papered with lilacs and the kitchen shelves
Covered with oilcloth, and they had a child
Says the sandbox made from a tractor tyre.
Money was scarce, say the jars of plum preserves
And canned tomatoes sealed in the cellar-hole,
And the winters cold, say the rags in the window frames.
It was lonely here, says the narrow country road.

Something went wrong, says the empty house

In the weed-choked yard. Stones in the fields
Say he was not a farmer; the still-sealed jars

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In the cellar say she left in a nervous haste.
And the child? Its toys are strewn in the yard
Like branches after a storm - a rubber cow,
a rusty tractor and a broken plow,
a doll in overalls. Something went wrong, they say.
Ted Kooser
C.2 Based on your reading of the given extract, answer the questions that
follow by selecting the correct option.
A tall man too, says the length of the bed
In an upstairs room, and a good, God-fearing man,
Says the Bible with a broken back
On the floor below a window, bright with sun;
But not a man for farming, say the fields
Cluttered with boulders and a leaky barn.
1. Select the most suitable option that fills the blank.
The lines of the extract_________.
A) introduce us to the farm family.
B) introduce us to the farmer.
C) explain what happened to the family.
D) explain the reality of failure.
2. The expression “the Bible with a broken back” implies that the man _________.
A) was careless with his possessions.
B) looked for comfort and answers to his troubles in the Bible.
C) enjoyed reading articles.
D) disliked his Bible and thereby, his faith.
3. Choose the option in which the blank CANNOT include the word ‘cluttered’.
A) The house where Dolly lives is ___________ with years of accumulated junk.
B) Inspection sites are dirty and ___________ with tools, materials, or debris.

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C) My desk gets very ___________ if I don’t clear it at the end of each day.
D) Local residents have ___________ up protest against the planned dumpsite.

4. Choose the option that correctly completes the given literary devices.
Bible with a broken back: _______________ :: _______________ : personification
A) Alliteration; says the length of the bed
B) Alliteration; good, God-fearing man
C) Personification; God-fearing man
D) Personification; bright with sun

C3. Answer by selecting the correct option.

1) The poet has chosen specific details such as ‘still-sealed jars’, ‘left in a nervous
haste’, ‘toys strewn’ in the last stanza. The impact of these words is that they
________________.
A) describe the family’s condition vividly
B) suggest a tragic outcome of the farm family
C) explain the family’s common condition
D) mourn the loss of the family
2) The first two stanzas have a certain similarity because both focus on the
_____________.
A) events of what happened to the family
B) reason the farmhouse is abandoned
C) characters and the image of the farm family.
D) conflict between the characters
3) The usage of the words “weed-choked farm” suggest that
A) the house has been abandoned for some time.
B) the man has been too busy to de-weed.
C) there is a drought in the area.
D) weeds grow well on farms where there are boulders.

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C.4. Answer briefly.
1) How does the poet’s use of personification of objects bring the people of the
house to life?
2) Comment on the overall tone of the poem.
3) With proper reference, speculate the problems the woman must have faced in
the house.
4) Why do you think the farmer left the Bible behind if he was a God-fearing man?
C.5. Imagine that a Social Worker comes to the abandoned farmhouse to
find out what may have happened to the family. She makes the following
observations in her note-pad :

Clues Conclusions
* empty house Have they left? Where could they have gone to?
* boulders in the field, The owner might not have been a farmer.
leaky barn
* sealed jars in the cellar A woman lived there - family short of money -
left in a hurry
* toys scattered in Something went wrong ?????
the yard

On the basis of these notes, the Social Worker wants to present the facts to her
Head of Department. Write the report in 120-150 words.
You may begin like this:
When I reached the farmhouse, I saw that the house was empty. I.........

C.6. The poet draws conclusions about the family without having met them.
He does this in lines such as:
Something went wrong, says the empty house
in the weed-choked yard...

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UNIT-1
This is a style of English that is very suitable for a poem. But in ordinary speech
or writing we use expressions such as:

For example, we could say:

* There are large shoes in the farmhouse, so it is likely that the farmer was a big
man.
* It seems that they had a child, because there is a sandbox made from a tractor tyre.
* The kitchen shelves were covered with oil cloth. This suggests that a woman
lived in the farmhouse.
Make other sentences like this, using ideas from the poem.

C.7. When we write informal letters (to a friend, or to a member of our

family), we use this layout.

33 Bhagat Singh Road

Address
New Delhi
22 February 20--- Date
Dear Dad Salutation
(body of the letter - in paragraphs)
Yours affectionately
Complimentary Close
Nandini

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UNIT-1
C.8. Amit from Hyderabad has got admission in a college at Bengaluru. He
has to share his room with another boy. When he arrives at the hostel
he learns that his room mate has gone home for a few days. Based on
his observations of the room, Amit writes a letter to his friend, Sumit,
about his new roommate. As Amit, write the letter.
In your writing, remember to follow CODER

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