An A-Z of Inspiring Thoughts

Comprehension Practice

Read the passage given below and answer the question a, b, c, and that follow:

La Nina is an atmospheric phenomenon when the equatorial waters of eastern Pacific Ocean turn unusually cold. It is the opposite of El Nino when the eastern waters are warmer than usual. Both events create the greatest global impact in winter time. La Nina — The Little Girl —has enormous adverse effect globally since showing itself in mid-2010. La Nina and its equally unruly relative, El Nino, occur when the waters of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean along the equator become uncommonly cold or warm. These changes in the Pacific bring forth changes in atmospheric pressure, winds, temperature, and rainfall that have a worldwide influence. These conjugated with changes in the ocean and atmospheres are jointly called the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). For India, an El Nino is of grave concern as it negatively affects the south-west monsoon. La Nina, on the contrary, is frequently advantageous for the monsoon, particularly in the second half. The La Nina that happened in the Pacific in 2010 possibly assisted last year’s south-west monsoon in its last half advantageously. Yet, it also brought in the flood in Australia, which turned out to be one of worst natural disasters with large regions of the north-east under water and also caused similar mayhem in south-eastern Brazil and actively caused the heavy rains and accompanying deluging in Sri Lanka. The impact of ESNO is obviously aggravated by global warming The Indian Ocean is warming quickly. We can already observe the glimpses of the sinister influence of a La Lina of the rising warming along with the increase in temperature of the western Pacific.
In all probability the increased ocean temperature might have influenced the weather associated issues in the past few months. In spite of the beneficial aspects of the La Nina that evolved in mid-2010 to the south-west monsoon, the high temperature of the tropical Indian Ocean may have impeded a more evenhanded distribution of rainfall in some of the northern Indian states. The warming up of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific almost certainly supplied the additional moisture and energy for the inordinately heavy rains that Australia and Sri Lanka went through. That might be the cause for the excess of rain India the north-east monsoon which, as is commonly witnessed, checked by a La Nina. From this it possible conclude that the climatical changes brought ushered by agents like ESNO will be aggravated by the global warming rendering severe weather phenomena such as droughts and floods more regular.

a. Give the meaning of the following words as used in the passage: [3]
1. Assisted
2. Influenced
3. aggravated
b. Answer briefly in your own words the following questions:
1. What is a La Lina? [2]
2. Who is its relative? How do they occur? [2]
3. What was the impact of La Lina that happened in the Pacific in 2010? [2]
4. What does ESNO stand for? Explain the phenomenon. [2]
5. What is La Lina of great concern to India? [2]
6. How has El Nino influenced the monsoon in different parts of India? [2]
c. Write in not more than 60 words the effect of La Lina on the weather conditions. [8]

d. Give a suitable title to your summary and justify the choice of the title. [2] 

The Last Leaf- O'Henry

Here's a short film based on the lesson 'The Last Leaf'. Hope you will enjoy it.

The Tyger - William Blake

It has been some time since the Class Eights have read The Tyger. All the more reason to go back to it and read it up once more - only if to see whether it still reads as clear as it once did.

Sharing with you all a documentary on William Blake and some analyses which I came across, of the poem, complete with a reading, even a performance! Listen to them, watch them and do get back to me about what you understood and enjoyed and what you didn't.

Happy viewing!

Picture Composition

Try this picture to practice for the picture composition question in your language paper. It was part of the 2001 English Language paper.

Phrasal Verbs

What are phrasal verbs?

Simply put, they are short two word phrases which include a verb. What's significant about these phrases are that the verb takes on a completely new meaning once latched on to a preposition or an adverb.

For example - the verb 'break ' would mean one thing while the phrasal verb 'break down' would mean something totally different. The same is true for phrasal verbs like 'wear out' something or 'take after' someone.

Here are some links that you could use as a resource for phrasal verbs.


 https://www.englishclub.com/vocabulary/phrasal-verbs-list.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/148_phrasalverbs/ 

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/phrasal-verb-videos 

http://www.icseenglishhelp.org/2008/11/prasal-verbs.html

This link below needs you to register before you can see their video which is quite explanatory.

http://www.learnnext.com/ICSE-Class-VIII-English-Grammar/Lesson-Phrasal-Verbs---Types.htm 

Hope this helps!

ICSE, ISC Tips and Tricks for Studying: Study better with these simple methods.

ICSE, ISC Tips and Tricks for Studying: Study better with these simple methods.: Study better with these simple methods. Sometimes students feel saturated with the overload of information that is absorbe...

Gearing up for the Boards!

Dear Students,
Here is a link to a site that should prove helpful to those of you in Class X. Do go through it carefully and get back to the respective teachers with your comments on the same.

Celebrate World Handwashing Day

Today is World Handwashing Day. 

Find below a video to explain the six steps to effective handwashing and another that talks about why washing hands is important for us.

The Supreme Court

Dear Children,

We have studied about the single integrated judiciary system  as part of our Civics class.
In this audio-visual aid that I found, there are a few questions which will help you to revise the content taught about the single integrated judiciary system of India and the Supreme Court. These are structured questions with answer clues. Take note of the content and let me know if it has helped you to revise.

Happy learning!
Nibedita Ma'am

Equation of a Straight Line Simplified

Dear Children,

Find here a link to an interesting page on how the equation of a straight line and its different forms can be understood simply.

Do share with me how easy you found it after exploring this.

Tanvi Ma'am

Rise of Nazism and Fascism

Dear Students,

Sharing with you a video on the rise of Nazism as an introduction to our next lesson- the Second World War.

Do share with me your inputs on the video you just watched.

Nibedita Ma'am

Examination Time - Time to Get Yourself Tested!

Well, much has been said about keeping sane and stress- free during exam time and most of it is true. Only, all of it is easier said than done.

 

Keeping calm is more about having an attitude to do so than just a statement badge.

 So - whatever the situation - an examination or a speech or performance - if you have it in you to be calm in the face of it you will.

And for now-

By taking control of their study schedule, students can significantly reduce their exam stress. Controlling their thought process and inner dialogue, taking a moment to breathe and getting enough sleep are the keys to a stress-free exam period. - See more at: http://www.myblueprint.ca/5-tips-to-beat-exam-stress/#sthash.Wjq8FPwF.dpuf

taking control of their study schedule, students can significantly reduce their exam stress. Controlling their thought process and inner dialogue, taking a moment to breathe and getting enough sleep are the keys to a stress-free exam period. - See more at: http://www.myblueprint.ca/5-tips-to-beat-exam-stress/#sthash.Wjq8FPwF.dpuf

  Take control of your study schedule

  Control your thought process and inner dialogue

  Get enough sleep

  Take a moment to breathe

   Be realistic

   Get some exercise

Before you know it, you'll be in great shape to go! Just remember- this exam is only a way to know how much you've learnt and how well.

All the best!

taking control of their study schedule, students can significantly reduce their exam stress. Controlling their thought process and inner dialogue, taking a moment to breathe and getting enough sleep are the keys to a stress-free exam period. - See more at: http://www.myblueprint.ca/5-tips-to-beat-exam-stress/#sthash.Wjq8FPwF.dpuf

taking control of their study schedule, students can significantly reduce their exam stress. Controlling their thought process and inner dialogue, taking a moment to breathe and getting enough sleep are the keys to a stress-free exam period. - See more at: http://www.myblueprint.ca/5-tips-to-beat-exam-stress/#sthash.Wjq8FPwF.dpuf

The Road Not Taken

The Road Not Taken                      

Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)

A thought provoking bunch of critical essays of the poem for those who are interested-

http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/frost/road.htm

Here's a Powerpoint Presentation for you courtesy tes.co.uk

Do share with me your doubts and queries about the poem. Think - how is this poem relevant to our everyday life? Would love to see your enactments/presentations in class.

Annapurna Ma'am

 

 

Merchant of Venice - Act III Exploring Shylock Through his Speech

Dear Children,
We have been reading some of the most powerful speeches in the play right now. It would make sense to try and explore the layers of emotion underlying those lines in Act III. Watch these amazing portrayals and let me know what you think of them.

Notes on Poetry

Dear Children,
I came across this article on poetry analysis by Jim Forrest that I found really interesting and worth sharing. So here it is for you to read, understand and enjoy trying out.

Poetry notes
T.F. - T.A.S.T.I. POETRY ANALYSIS by Jim Forrest

Following the process outlined below will allow you to confidently and accurately understand and explain even the most challenging poetry. The best results will come from taking careful and detailed notes for each step, following the order outlined below. Welcome to the wonderful world of poetry.

1. T = Title

Before reading the poem, take a careful look at the title and make educated predictions about the subject matter, setting, themes, moods, etc. of the poem.

2. F = Facts

In many ways, this is the key step in the whole process, because not being clear about the factual (i.e. literal) meaning of a poem will almost always lead to confusion and\or error in understanding the abstract (i.e. figurative) ideas and feelings that the poem is communicating. Therefore, be very careful and thorough in taking notes and finding evidence at this stage. The questions you should try to answer are—

a) Who? — Who is the narrator (speaker) of the poem? Who are the other characters in the poem? What do you know about these people? Evidence?

b) Where? and When? (Setting) — What are the implications of setting the poem at this place and this time?

c) What happens? (Plot) — Exactly what events happen or have happened in the poem?

3. T = Techniques

Identify specific examples of poetic techniques employed in the poem, and if possible explain how these techniques contribute to the MOOD and\or meaning of the poem. Look for techniques such as:

a) Imagery and Image Patterns
b) Figurative Language - – i.e. Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Allusion, etc.
c) Sound Techniques — i.e. Rhyme, Alliteration, Onomatopoeia, etc
d) Other Language Techniques—Diction, Syntax, Connotation, etc.

4. A = Attitude

Identify and explain the attitude(s) (i.e. TONE) of the narrator and\or the writer toward the characters, events, etc. in the poem. As much as possible, provide direct evidence from the text (i.e. words, phrases) to support your explanation of the attitudes you identify.

5. S = Shifts

Identify and explain the significant shifts and changes in the poem. Specifically, look for shifts in:

a) narrative voice (i.e. the change to a new speaker)
b) stanzas (Why change to a new stanza here?)
c) image patterns, diction, syntax
d) setting, action
e) logical organisation (Key Words - but, however, yet, although, etc)
f) verb tenses
g) line lengths
h) punctuation (dashes, periods, ellipsis, etc.)

6. T = Title

Return to the title and make further notes about its significance and implications, especially at the level of figurative meaning, in light of the analysis done so far.

7. I = Idea

In one or two complete sentences, summarise the primary idea(s) and\or feelings that the poet is communicating in the poem. In other words, what is the poet saying about people and\or life in the poem?
This summary statement should be the result of and be consistent with the details of your analysis in the preceding categories.

Do share your views on this with me.

Rita Ma'am

The Inchcape Rock

Hope you enjoyed reading 'The Inchcape Rock' and our discussion on what is 'good' and what is 'bad' has prodded you to think a little about why certain people like Sir Ralph the Rover derive pleasure out of harming others' reputation. Also do spend a while pondering over how jealousy could be a theme for this poem.

A few useful and interesting links for you -
 You can read the poem here and listen to the poem being recited here -  The Poem 
This is how the Abbey at Arbroath looks nowadays...
The Abbot of Arbroath ( in the poem , mentioned as Aberbrothok)

The story of the Inchcape Rock can be listened to here
There's much history behind the story as you can guess. Read more about it here  -
 History of the Bellrock Lighthouse
the story of the inchcape lighthouse/bell
Here you can read about the legend of the bell rock as some people know it.

Today there's no bell but a lighthouse on the Inchcape Rock. Watch the following video
to witness just how the lighthouse sways with the waves lashing about.

To sign off...here's this amazing sand art video.
Sand Art

I guess that is quite a lot of resource to help you understand how the poem came to be written.


Do share your responses and queries with me in class.

Annapurna Ma'am

Sanskrit Songs

Hello Children,

As you gear up for the Inter- House Group Song Competition, here's a bit of help. Some Sanskrit songs for the Sanskrit teams. The links are given below - you will need to download them.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8_xRbscAKFjbENndldNODVJdGU2TFQ0aThGMXBZSHl2UEdR/edit


https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8_xRbscAKFjRnBHQVZzazRsWTJJMjBCb3FzUl9MRC1TaUVJ/edit

All the best!

Pratibha Ma'am

A Mathematical Paradox

Look carefully at the argument below.

Let	a	=	b
Multiply both sides by a:	a2	=	ab
Add a2 - 2ab:	a2 + a2 - 2ab	=	ab + a2 - 2ab
Simplify:	2(a2 - ab)	=	a2 - ab
Divide by a2 - ab:	2	=	1

Oops!

What went wrong? It's the line which tells you to divide by a² - ab. 
                                                   Since
                                                    a = b
 you have divided by zero, and this leads to the final incorrect statement.

You cannot divide by zero. In Mathematics, you need to watch out for this. It can lead to odd results!

- Renu Ma'am

Fibonacci Numbers

Watch "Arthur Benjamin: The magic of Fibonacci Numbers" on YouTube.

 I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

- Renu Ma'am

Thinking About What Lies Ahead of Class X

After Class X - life ahead is unseen - so full of possibilities and choices galore. What would be the right choice for us? What would be our path to success? Exploration is the key as well as self-analysis. We need to find out what are our fields of interest. We need to explore diverse areas just in order to know whether it is something we enjoy doing. When someone mentions a career that sounds exciting,we begin wondering whether we could excel in that field or whether it would be a good choice. For some, it might be a state of dilemma - for others it may have been decided beforehand. Whatever it may be, it does make sense to keep exploring different avenues through interactions with various people we meet, ask questions, find out about career options, studies that will take you further on your path of interest.

Here's sharing with you an article I recently read :-

The link to the site it has been taken from is- 

 http://www.indiaeducation.net/careercenter/after-class-10th.aspx 

Copying it here for ease of reading...

Class 10th is over, now what? Many students as well as parents today are perplexed  with this question. But a little thinking and careful planning can definitely do wonders to your career or your  child's  career. 

Basically, the moment you enter 10th standard, you start analyzing the subject you wish to take up in class 11th. The preparation begins with self-analysis. While the opinion of your parents, teachers, friends and other social groups are important but it should not be the only/dominant factor. 
An ideal thing to do is to consult your teachers, relatives and guardians.  Today, options are not limited to science, maths, commerce or humanities. For example If you have a flair for writing and have a good command over language then you can go for arts in class 11th and simultaneously develop your writing skills. Later you can go for journalism course during your graduation.
If you like pursuing a particular sport then do not feel shy or awkward about it. On the other hand, pursue your studies along with sports. Always chose subjects which may give you ample time to practice that particular sport.
if you have a penchant for music or acting or modeling then you can choose subjects that may help you in pursuing these careers after your 12th
Likewise, if you wish to do professional courses like  engineering (IIT, DCE) or MBBS (AIMS, DPMT, CBSE)  after your class 12th, then you can start preparing  right away. You can take professional help but remember  there is no substitute to self study.  For courses like MBA, nothing can be done now particularly but one can start concentrating on developing his/her  analytical, aptitude and English language skills.
Guidelines to choosing a prospective career 

• Before choosing a career, you should give due consideration to the circumstances, social status, priorities of your family, your physical attributes, your own limitations and capabilities and so forth.

•  Keep in mind your own priorities.

•  Academic competence increases if you are able to devote your energies towards the field of your choice.

•  You should keep an open mind. You should not go for the traditional careers just because somebody suggested or tried to convince you.

•  You can go for your SWOT analysis i.e. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. You should build on your strong points, try to minimize your weaknesses, try to grab the opportunities that may come your way and be wary of perceived threats. You may consult a professional Psychologist if you so feel like.

• These days there is a plethora of information. Do a crosscheck about a given career option. Research well in advance over career options.

•  Do not feel shy of seeking the help of a professional Career Counselor. Feel free to consult National Network of Education.

•  You should never doubt your own capabilities. Half the battle is lost when you start doubting your own capabilities.

Arriving at your best career option is possible, only if you gather as much information as possible on diverse professions and educational opportunities. In no way you should be prejudiced about a job and end up attaching unqualified superiority for professions like medicine, engineering, and the civil services, though one can always have preferences for. Remember at the end of the day all it matters is how much you excel in a profession and the rest follows.
The list of careers is endless. Every body has a place under the sun even if the sun is not benign, you can still make your mark under it by choosing a career option close to your heart. Never mind, you are not good at mathematics or science, you can still choose from a plethora of options from the commerce stream, humanities, and vocational courses. 

Remember that there is no short cut to success. At the same time, if your field of hobby becomes your field of career, chances of success increase manifold.

English Literature - an aid to understanding how questions must be answered

1
 Here are some questions answered . Hope this helps!

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

“Baldeo walked confidently for, being a tribal himself, he was used to the jungle and its ways. Like his forefathers, he carried a small axe, fragile to look at, but deadly in use. With it, three or four swift strokes, he could cut down a tree as neatly as it had been sawn.”

a) Where was Baldeo going? Why did he walk confidently?

Ans: Baldeo was going to the station where he worked.
He walked confidently as he was used to the jungle and its ways, being a tribal himself. He was also confident of the fact that the deadly axe he carried with him could protect him from the dangerous wild animals on the way.


b) Why was he carrying an axe? Who made the axe and how?
Ans: Carrying the axe served many purposes for Baldeo. Not only did the deadly axe serve as a protective weapon against the wild animals he might encounter on his way to the station in the jungle in the dead of night, but it was also an indispensable part of himself – it was almost a tradition for him as his forefathers would also carry an axe with themselves always.

Baldeo’s father had made the axe out of pure steel, ringing true like a bell, over a charcoal fire.


c) Who had offered to buy the axe? Why didn’t Baldeo sell it?
Ans: Occasionally an official who would come to the station would offer to buy the axe at a good price,but Baldeo refused to part with it.

Baldeo refused to sell his axe as the axe was a part of him. Be it to the local market seven miles away or to a tribal dance, the axe was always with him. Being deadly in use against wild animals, the axe served as a protection for Baldeo and was also something he cherished, as his father had made it and his forefathers always carried an axe with them.

d) What had Baldeo heard about the tiger? How did Baldeo almost manage to defeat the tiger with the help of the axe?
Ans: Baldeo had heard many tales of the famous tunnel tiger, a man-eater, which was said to frequent the spot where his station was situated.

Baldeo was a brave man who displayed great courage in his fight against the tiger. The axe helped him to almost defeat the tiger. When the tiger attacked Baldeo, attempting to bowl him over with one strike of its paw, Baldeo leapt away with great agility, avoiding the attack and struck the tiger’s shoulder with his deadly axe. The tiger closed in but Baldeo drove his axe right into its shoulder, almost tearing its leg apart. Had the axe not stuck to its bone as it did then, Baldeo would have lived to tell his courageous tale. The combination of Baldeo’s exemplary courage and skilful use of the axe did finally prove fatal for the tiger although not rightaway.


e) Briefly describe what impression you form about Baldeo’s character.
Ans: Baldeo was a tribal who was used to the jungle and its ways. Courage came naturally to him.
The brave fight he put up against the tiger displays his fearless spirit even when his life was at stake.
Being a Khalasi at a small wayside signal-stop it was his job to signal to the passing trains whether the line was clear or not, by lighting the signal-lamp. Baldeo did his job with great dedication and sincerity – not even the chill of the winter night or the dangerous wild animals on his way to the station could deter him from doing his duty.
Baldeo was also a responsible man. Not only was he responsible at his job, but he was also a responsible father, thinking of his son’s well-being even when he first encountered the tiger. It was responsibility towards his family which led him to take up the job of a signal man as farming, which was his main livelihood did not enable him to earn sufficiently to support his family.

2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

“Where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by Thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that Heaven of freedom
My Father, let my country awake.”

1. What do you understand by ‘clear stream of reason’?
Ans: Tagore prays that his countrymen be able to think clearly and logically. Tagore compares the ability to think clearly without being influenced by age-old customs and meaningless rituals and superstitions to a stream of clear water.

2 What is ‘dead habit' according to the poet ?
Ans: ‘Dead habit’ refers to the age-old rituals, customs and superstitions which are baseless and not founded on any logic or reasoning. People are simply continuing with such beliefs and customs as they have become a matter of habit for them.

3. What does the poet mean by ‘ever widening thought and action’?
Ans: By ‘ever-widening thought and action’ Tagore refers to broad-minded and progressive thinking and action that will lead to the true progress of the nation.

4. Describe any two traits of character the poet wants to inculcate in his countrymen.
Ans: The poet, Rabindranath Tagore, wants to inculcate in his countrymen some basic values which will, according to him , ensure that the country becomes a veritable ‘heaven of freedom’. Primary among these is the quality of self-respect and courage. When ‘the mind is without fear and the head is held high’, the citizens of a country cannot remain oppressed for long and true freedom is not far away.
Another trait Tagore has written about is the trait of honesty. The country of his dreams is one where ‘words come out from the depths of truth’. It is the spirit of truthfulness that will enable one to create the ‘heaven of freedom’ Tagore dreams of.

5. What does the poet mean by ‘let my country awake’?
Ans: By the phrase ‘let my country awake’ the poet, Rabindranath Tagore implies that the country has been asleep all this while. Prejudice, narrow-mindedness, dishonesty, complacence and the inability to stand up for one’s own self are only a few of the many problems that have the country in its grip- the reason why the country has not woken up to its own identity and power.

6. What is the ‘Heaven of freedom’ according to the poet?
Ans: The ‘Heaven of freedom’ the poet, Rabindranath Tagore refers to, is the country of his dreams. It is the land where virtues such as honesty, self- respect, determination, industriousness and broad-mindedness will make it heaven-like to live in – as that will be the true freedom sought.

3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

Gratiano: I tell thee what, Antonio –
I love thee, and ‘tis my love that speaks-
There are a sort of men whose visages
Do cream and mantle like a standing pond,
And do a willful stillness entertain,

(i) What has Antonio earlier said to make Gratiano comment like this?
Ans: Antonio has said that he considers the world to be a stage and the part he plays in it to be that
of a serious actor.

(ii) How is Gratiano different from Antonio?
Ans: While Antonio is melancholy by nature and is found brooding sadly over nothing in particular, Gratiano finds reason to be cheerful in everything. He claims to prefer his liver being heated with wine and thus having a lively personality as opposed to groaning and sighing his time away like Antonio, and letting his heart be drained of all blood in doing so. Gratiano is extremely talkative although much of what he says does not make sense. Antonio, on the other hand, is more of a listener and a sensible man.

(iii) What does the speaker have to say about a warm-blooded young man?
Ans: Gratiano says that a young man should not sit motionless like a statue made of stone – when he is very much alive and his blood is warm within. He should not sleep when he is awake – meaning that he must be as lively as he really is, being a young man. Acting irritable and unhappy will only make him feel unwell – ‘creep into the jaundice’ as they say.

(iv) What does he say about his own ‘liver and ‘heart’?
Ans: Gratiano says that he prefers allowing his liver to be heated up with wine - as that would ensure he has a lively personality rather than letting his heart cool with groans and sighs. The Elizabethan belief was that drinking too much wine would heat the liver and increase blood circulation contributing to making a person lively. They also believed in those times that groaning and sighing too much drained the heart of blood and cooled it – making one weak. Gratiano thus clearly mentions his preference for a lively cheerful attitude to life.

(v) Explain the given extract and state the reason for such behaviour.
Ans: In the given extract, Gratiano professes his love for Antonio and tells him that the advice he gives him is for his own good.
He says that Antonio is behaving like one of those people who always like to look serious. Their faces never show any expression or emotion, like stagnant ponds covered with a layer of scum. One does not know what lies beneath the layer. The reason for such behaviour is to create an impression upon others about oneself that may not be true. People like to look serious and grave although they are not really so, in order to seem important.

(vi) How does Gratiano, sarcastically, sum up the behaviour of this kind of men?
Ans: Gratiano sarcastically makes fun of such behaviour that attempts to create an impression on others - he says that such people believe that by looking stern and serious, they would make people think they are wise, important and respectable. They feel that when they speak everyone else must simply stop talking and just pay attention to what they are saying. But when they really do open their mouths to speak, they sound foolish.

(vii) Who would call whom fools and what would be the consequences?
Ans: Those who would hear these seemingly grave men speak would call them fools when they opened their mouths to speak. According to the Bible, those who call their fellow human beings foolish are damned to hell. Those who would call these men fools on listening to them speak nonsense would suffer damnation. Gratiano is quite certain that such people who only put on an appearance of being serious would sound foolish when they speak.

(viii) What parting advice does he give Antonio?
Gratiano tells Antonio that he must make use of his tongue, that is, talk. The only tongues that are useful when silent, are that of an ox – which is used as a delicacy.

Some figures of speech I found. Can you find some more?

Metaphor: Act 1 Scene 1: Gratiano tells Antonio “Fish not with this melancholy bait for this fool-gudgeon, this opinion,” creating the idea that good opinion is like a fish, to be caught.

Simile: Act 1 Scene 1: Bassanio: “His reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff.”

A link that might help : http://nfs.sparknotes.com/merchant/page_8.html

Sing a tune in French

Voila!
Here are some popular songs in French for you to learn and enjoy.

Have fun!

Mental Math - Sharing a Mathemagician's Secrets

Dear Students,

Here is something that I found really fascinating and I am sure you will enjoy. Although you will find it is an entire book, and might find it tedious to go through at once, there are some amazing mental Math tricks in it that are immensely helpful.

Take your time to read it as and when you can and let me know how you liked it.

Secrets of Mental Math byMichael Shermer and Arthur Benjamin


Renu Ma'am

Global Warming

We have just learnt about the consequences of the depletion of the Ozone layer. One of the effects, as we have discussed, is global warming. Here is a Power Point presentation on the topic.

http://www.slideshare.net/gotinata_m/the-global-warming-ppt

The Global Warming PPT from gotinata_m

Let me know if this was helpful.

Urmi Ma'am

Square It - Mentally!

A quick trick of squaring

As you know, the square of a number is a number multiplied by itself. For example, the square of 7 is 7 x 7 = 49. Here you find a simple method that will enable you to easily calculate the square of any two-digit number, when the number ends in 5, so let’s do that trick now.

To square a two-digit number that ends in 5, you need to remember only two things.

1. The answer begins by multiplying the first digit by the next higher digit.

2. The answer ends in 25.

For example,

To square the number 35, we simply multiply the first digit (3) by the next higher digit (4), then attach 25.

Since 3 x 4 = 12, the answer is 1225. Therefore, 35 x 35 = 1225.

How about the square of 85?

Since 8 x 9 = 72, we immediately get 85 x 85 = 7225.

Here's a link for you to explore :- http://www.mathsisfun.com/square-root.html

Let me know whether you enjoyed using this mental trick or not.

Renu Ma'am

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

The Bard of Avon is turning 450 years old today! Now all the world's his stage , says an article in The Telegraph, as people all over the world celebrate his (traditionally observed) birthday with much fanfare.

William Shakespeare's date of birth is conjectured from records of his date of baptism which is on the 26th of April. If you want to know how Stratford- upon -Avon is celebrating his birthday, check their site which also has a lot of information about Shakespeare's life.

This is where Shakespeare was born:-

and this is a look at the interior...

If you are interested in listening to some in-depth criticism of the play, here's a podcast on the ways in which personal relationships are shaped by models of financial transaction, using the casket scenes as a central example in the Merchant of Venice.

And when you have some time in hand do listen in to a really interesting lecture by Dr.Vivian Rakoff at the Stratford Festival where he contextualizes the social and political framework behind one of Shakespeare's most controversial plays, The Merchant of Venice. I did enjoy listening to him deliver Shylock's memorable  speech- 'Hath not a Jew eyes?...'

So here's wishing a very happy birthday to the Bard who occupies a special place in our English classes and hoping our explanations of his well crafted language does justice to his stature.

I am posting for you a link to the full text of the play with annotations and a delightful interpretation of the plot of the play and an analysis of the characters on BBC bitesize.

Have fun discovering Shakespeare and let me know if this has been helpful.

Structure of an Atom ( Class 9)

You have already studied about the structure of an atom and the various theories associated with it.
John Dalton, Rutherford and JJ Thomson conducted experiments and gave the structure of an atom. J.J. Thomson proposed that electrons are embedded in a positive sphere.
Rutherford’s alpha-particle scattering experiment led to the discovery of the atomic nucleus. Rutherford’s model of the atom proposed that a very tiny nucleus is present inside the atom and electrons revolve around this nucleus. The stability of the atom could not be explained by this model. It was Neils Bohr who explained that stability of an atom was related to attaining the Noble gas state where all the shells of the atom were filled with electrons according to their capacity. This was the electronic configuration and to attain this state atoms either gained or lost energy.
J. Chadwick discovered the presence of neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
So, the three sub-atomic particles of an atom are: (i) electrons, (ii) protons and (iii) neutrons.

You also know that the metallic character represents a group of chemical properties of elements called metals. Metals lose their electrons rapidly and the tendency of an element to lose electrons and form positive ions (cations) is called electropositive or metallic character. For example,alkali metals ( Na, K ) are the most electropositive elements. They are good reducing agents.

"The tendency of an element to accept electrons to form an anion is called its non-metallic or electronegative character." For example, chlorine, oxygen and phosphorous show greater electronegative or non-metallic character. They are good oxidizing agents.

As I was going through some worksheets, I found this site which gives a good understanding of the concept of bonding, equations and also has some good practice sheets.Please do not go through the sheets related to emperical formulae and mole concept. They are for the next grade.

http://crescentok.com/staff/jaskew/isr/chemistry/class12.htm

Do visit this site and practice the worksheets given in it.

Grammar & Vocabulary

We have been revising the basics of grammar as it is the beginning of the school year and what better time to focus on the foundation of language than now?

I am posting some links here for some fun practice. Hope you enjoy doing them.

Tenses:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1618_gramchallenge33/page2.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1618_gramchallenge33/page3.shtml

This link shows you a tense chart which helps explain the tenses:- 
http://www.grammarbank.com/verb-tenses.html


Here's a passage for practice:-

COFFEE !

Read the following passage carefully. Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb in the bracket.

Coffee is a beverage ___1___ ( drink ) by many past generations of people. What most people do not realize is that coffee is ___2___ ( make ) from beans ___3___ ( pick ) from trees.

Coffee trees ___4___ ( grow ) either from seeds or cuttings. These trees will begin to ___5___ ( bear ) crops when they are about four years old.
Workers on coffee plantations have to pick the beans by hand. After the beans ___6___ ( gather ), they are ___7___ ( roast ) at high temperatures. This process ___8___ ( give ) them their fragrance.
The best coffee is made from freshly ___9___ ( grind ) beans. There are many different ways of ___10___ (prepare)  coffee. Coffee can be served either with or without milk.

Get the original passage and answers at:-

  http://www.englishdaily626.com/verbs.php?065

Reported speech:-

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-reported-speech.php#.U1Cbp_mSyQ4

Reported questions:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/820_gramchallenge44/page2.shtml

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/820_gramchallenge44/page3.shtml

TRY THIS!

Vocabulary (source: bbc.co.uk)

What are phrasal verbs?

Phrasal verbs are very common in spoken and written English. So we need them to understand and speak English naturally.
It's the combination of a verb + a particle (preposition or adverb) resulting in a new word. The new unit is different from the two separate words. 

Examples: 

1. She brought (verb) up (preposition) the matter of the praise for my invention again!

2. They say it isn't easy to bring up children these days.

3. Maybe if you talk it over things would settle down.

Here's a simple list of phrasal verbs for students if you are interested.

Some practice:-

Think of phrasal verbs that have the same meaning as the words in bold. Write your answers in the spaces. 
1. seeing my dad off      2. touches down   3. looking around   .4 checked in  5. coming back  6. checked out of 

  1. I was browsing in the bookshop when I saw my long-lost friend, Bertie. ________________ 

 2. I hate saying goodbye to my Dad when he goes off to work. He’s in the ________________  navy and sometimes I don’t see him for months. 
  
3. I left the hotel in disgust when I saw a rat in my bedroom. ________________   

4. My husband is returning home tomorrow after a six-month business trip! ________________ 
   
5. My plane lands at 2.30, so could you meet me in the airport at 3.00? ________________ 

 6. As I handed over my ticket and luggage, my fear of flying began to grow. ________________

Here are some links for some phrasal verbs and vocabulary quizzes :-
http://www.grammarbank.com/phrasal-verbs-quizzes.html

http://www.grammarbank.com/vocabulary-quiz.html


Prepositions:
A link to a prepositions quiz:-
http://www.grammarbank.com/prepositions-quiz.html

Reading Comprehension:-

On the same site, here's a link to a host of reading passages which have multiple choice answers.

http://www.grammarbank.com/reading-comprehension-worksheets.html

Do the exercise at leisure and not all at once. The aim is to give you access to resources that will aid your understanding of the concepts and give you ample practice.