EXERCISES

1. T,vo Friends
'T\VO friends, Amanda and Margot, one day, were walking together in a
desert arguing over some topic. In the heat of an argument, Margot slapped
Atn8nda in the face. Amanda was hurt, but without saying anything, ~rote in
tbe sa11d, uToday, my best friend Margot slapped me in the face. ".
'
They kept
on walking until they found an oasis,.where they decided to cool down with a
dip in the water. While bathing, Amanda got stuck in the mire and s~arted
sinking into the wet sand. Then, naturally, and unhesitatingly, Margot saved
. her by pulling her out of the quicksand. After recovering from the near-death
experience, after returning home, Am_anda carved on a ~tone, "Today, my
 Communicative English-JI

bes\ friend Margot saved my life". On being asked by the confused Margot
why she did so, Amanda replied, "When someone hurts us, we should write it
down in sand, where winds of forgiveness can erase it, but when someone
doe~ something good for us, we must engrave it on a stone, so no wind can
erase it".
Answer the followin~ questions.
i Name the friends me~tioned in the passage.
ii. Where were the two friends walking?
iii. Why did Margot slap Amanda?
iv. How did Amanda feel when Margot slapped he~?
v. Amanda slapped Margot in return. True or False.
VI. What did Amanda write in the sand?
vn. How would you describe the two friends based on their behaviour?
VDL What happened t<? Amanda when she was bathing? ..
IX. Do you think Margot would be a changed person after the experience? I
Give reasons. j
•I
'
x. What did Amanda write on a stone?
2. Giving Pays .
• • "You will die within a-year", highly skilled physicians told John.D.
Rockefeller, the first billionaire in the world. At that time, he was only 53.
Being the richest man in the world, he could buy anything, but could only eat l

soup and crackers. As he approached death, he awoke one morning with the {
realization of not being ·able to take any ofhis·wealth with him into the next
world. The man who could control the business world suddenly realised he
was not in control of his own life.. He was left with a choice: either die in
sorrow and self-pity, or establish a foundation and channelize his ass·ets to
hospitals, research and charity work. His charity would eventually lead to the
discovecy ofpenicillin, cures for malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria. But the
"
Listening Comprehension

most amazing part of Rockefeller's story is that the moment he began to give
back to society, his health changed for the better until he recovered completely.
From being dead at. 53, he lived till he turned 98.
Answe r the followi ng questions.
i What did physicians tell John Rockefeller when he was just 53?
ii. What was the paradox of Rockefeller's life?
ill. Rockefeller died at the age of 53. True or False. . ...
iv. What was Rockefeller's specialty?
v. Write the word used in the passage which means giving money,food,
. need. · .,0H
h eIp etc to people m
. rn/...
vi. What realisation dawned upon Rockefeller?
.•. • I
vii. Rockefeller discovered penicillin. True or False.
viii Name the diseases mentioned in the passage? ••
_- I •
ix. What do you think actually extended Rockefeller's life?
x. How long did Rockefeller live?
3. Pencil Preaches ... ..
A pencil seems to be small but teaches six great lessons of life.
Surprising? See how! (i) The pencil suffers a little when we use a sharpener
but afterwards, it is much sharper.. So let's learn to bear certain pains and
sorrows because they will make us better persons. (ii) It allows us to use an
eraser to rub out mistakes. This means correcting something we did is not
necessarily a bad thing; it helps us to keep the right path. (iii) What really
matters in it is not its wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So let's always
pay attention to what is happening inside us.. (vi) It always leaves a mark. In
just the same way, everything we do in life will leave a mark. So let's try to be
conscious of that in every action of ours. (v) It gets shorter and shorter with
use. So does life. Let's make the most while it lasts. (vi) It writes till the end·
Let's try to be useful and productive till the end.
•

Communicative English-11

Answer the following questions.

i According to the speaker, how many lessons of life does a pencil teach •
us?
ii. When does a pencil suffer?
iii What is the result of bearing pains and sorrows?
iv. Correcting something we have done is a bad thing. True or False.
v. What do we learn by correcting our errors?
vi. What matters most in a pencil?
vii. As per the text, what is the exterior part of a pencil made of?
viii We should always pay attention to what is happening inside us.True or
False.
ix. According to the speaker, what happens to the pencil if we use it?
x. Find the word from the passage w~ich means outer.
4. UBUNTU
"Ready ... steady ... go!", the referee announced the beginning of the
race. A basket of sweets _was placed near a tree and the participating African
Tribal Children were made to stand 100 meters away. The winner of the race
would get all the sweets in the basket. Everyone there was anxious to see the
winner. To their surprise,·an the participants held one another's hand, ran
1 • • . •

tog'ether towards the tree and divided the sweets equally among themselves.
When the amazed referee asked why they did so, all of them cried in one
voice, "UBUNTU" by which they meant "How can one be happy when the !
others are sad?" Ubuntu in their language means, 'I am, because we are'. It's 1

a strong message for all generations. Let's all have this attitude and spread '
I
happiness wherever we go.
Answer the following questions.
i What did the referee announce?
 Listening Comprehension

the basket?
ii. According to the speaker, what were there in
iii. Where was the basket kept?
medal. True or False.
iv. The winner of the race would get a gold
the USA. True or False.
v. As per the text, the participants belong to
tried to run the race. True or
vi. The referee was amazed because no one
False.
after the race?
vii. What did the participants utter in one voice
em ent with a sentence in
viii. 'Sharing increases happiness'. Support the stat
the passage.
' attitude?
ix. What can we spread, if we have 'UBUNTU
x. What does 'Ubuntu' in their language mean?
5. Indomitable Indeed!
n-year-old 'runs' home
"Dreaming big and working hard - this ninetee
army," said Gennan Embassy,
after his work shift as he dreams to be in the
the viral video ofVmod Kapri,
India. This sample encomium is in response to •

hra, a nineteen-year-old anny

I

a filmmaker and author. It is abou~ Pradeep Me

ht, Kapri saw him running on
aspirant from Almora ofUttarakhand. One nig
sprinting, Pradeep repl_ied
the roads of Noida. On being asked why he was
s ten kilometres a day from his
that his dream was to join the army. So, he run
his elder brother, cooks food
workplace to his home at Barola. H~ supports
home. He is so finn about his
for him and thinks of his ailing mother back
routine and views that he smilingly said 'no .
' to Kap_.:ri's offer ofdinner and
ri's offer to drive him home,
dropping at his destination. By declining Kap
ular hard work!
Pradeep is in fact driving home the value ofreg
An swe r the following questions.
pas sage?
i. Who is the young man mentioned in the
passage? .
ii. Who shared the viral video discussed in. .
II the

I
~
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 Communicative English-II

iii. Name the foreign embassy cited in the passage?

iv. Pick ou~ from the passage the synonym ofthe word praise. .
v. Where does Pradeep Mehra hail from?
vi. Why does Pradeep Mehra run from ho'me to his workplace every day?
vii Pradeep used to run twenty kilometer a day. True or False.
viii. What did Vinod Kapri offer Pradeep Mehra?
ix. How did Pradeep respond to Kapri's offer?
x. Find the idiom used in the passage which means making others
understand.
6. Age No Bnrrier
Quest for knowledge is unquenchable. The inore one tastes it the more
the person craves for it. And it lasts till one's last moment. Nothing can deter
the determined mind from the pursuit. Here is a proof in a retired but untiring
bank employee. After he hung up his boots, he acquired a dozeri degrees in
different domains like Business Administration, Covid 19, Crime, Psychology,
Law and Software. What could be his motive? "My urge to set an example to·
youth drove me," answers Shri Ramalingeswara Rao. B., from the heart of
Hyderabad, Somajiguda. Proving that good manners are infectious, his son is
an ~ian (with a dual degree) and his daughter (state 8th Ranker in EAMCET
in unite~ AP) is a postgradu~te i_n medicine. He spreads, his reach into
disciplines like se~ing the orphaned and aged persons._When he is not doing
these, he is writing poetry and raising coffee plantations in cool Kamataka hill
slo?es. Does '?Ile need more to live fully and meaningfully? Let's emulate him!
Answer the fo11owing questions.
i According to the passage, what is unquenchable?
~. How long does the craving f.or knowledge last?
iii Nothing can deter the detennined mind from the pursuit? True or
False.
iv. Find the idiom used in the passage to mean retired.
 Listening Comprehension

v. Where does Ramalingeswara Rao hail from?

VI. Ramalingeswara Rao acquired ten degrees after his retirement. True

or False.
Vil. What is Ramalingeswara Rao's motive?

V111. "Good manners are infectious", asserts the passage. What evidence

does it provide?
tx. How does Ramalingeswara Rao spend his time now?
x. What message.. can we draw from the life ofRamalingeswara Rao?
7. Here is a speech by a student.
Dear friends,
As we gather here tonight, we bid farewell to our beloved senior
students who are about to embark on a ne'Yjourn~y beyond these fami!iar
halls. It's a bittersweet moment for ~II ofus, fill~d with memories oflaughter,
learning~ and camaraderie.
To our classmates, you have been more than just seniors;·you have
been mentors, friends, and inspiration to us all. Your dedication, hard work,
and leadership have left an indelible mark on our school community. • : • •
As you step into the next chapter of your lives, remember the lessons
you've learned within these walls. Cherish the friendships you've made, the
challenges you've overcome, and the successes you've achieved. Carry with
you the values of integrity, perseverance, and kindness that have guided you
thus far.
Though we bid you farewell tonight, knQw that you will always have a
home here, and your legacy will continue to inspire generations of students to
come.
To our seniors, we wish ·every success and happiness in future
endeavors. May your dreams take flight, and may you always strivo for
excellence in all that you do.
Congratulations, and farewell!
 Communicative English-II

Answer the following questions.

1 Based on your understanding, what is the speech all about?
u. Who are being given farewell?
111 What do seniors leave behind in the school community?
1v. What should seniors carry with them?
• v. "Though we bid you farewell tonight, know that you will always have a
- - - - here, and your legacy will continue to inspire generations of
students to come." Complete the sentence with the correct word.
VJ. "Seniors will forget their friendships." On the basis of the speech, say
true or false.
vii. "Your dedication, hard work, and leadership have left an indelible mark
on our school community." What does 'Your' refer to here?
VUL What is the tense of the verb in "You will always have"?
ix. What is the overall emotion of the speech? Choose from the options.
a) Joy b) Sadness
c) Nostalgia/ bittersweet moment d) Excitement
x.. What is the primary message conveyed to the senior students? Choose
from the options.
a)Remember b) Cherish
c)Achieve d) Forget
8. Private Tragedy Serving a Public Cause
I
In 1959, Falguni Manjhi, wife ofDasarath Manjhi, fell down a mountain
I
path and died ofthe injuries she sustained. She could not be rushed to hospital
as the road to their village Gehlaur near Gaya in Bihar, was circuitous. It had
to go round the mountains. Manjhi, a labourer was moved into action by her
death. Born into a low caste, he thought high. He started carving a path through
the ridges. People called him a lunatic. Yet, he toiled with a hammer, chisel,
 Listening Comprehension

and his steely resolve. Twenty-two years ( 1960-1982) of his single-handed

efforts bore fruit. The 110 metre-long, 9.1 metre-wide and 7.7 metre-deep
path he carved through the ridges reduced the distance between Gehlaur and
Gaya by forty kilometres (from SS to I 5 KMs). The Bihar Government
honoured him. India Post released a stamp featuring him. A memorial with his
statue stands tall in Gehlaur. People fondly remember him as the Mountain
Man. Yet, the real reward to this departed soul could be to provide roads and
medical aid to evc,::ry village in India!
Answer the following questions.
i "Faith can move mountains". "Where there is a will, there is a way".
Consider if either of these two sayings can be an alternative title to the
passage. Give reasons.
11. Mention the reasons for Falguni's death.
111. Where did Manjhi hail from?
1v. How did Falguni's death move her husband, Manjhi?
v. Find out the idiom used in the passage to mean had a successful
result.
v1. What is the length of the path that Manjhi carved through the ridges?
vii. How much time did Manjhi take to carve the path?
viii. Pick the word from the passage which means an insane person.
ix. How do you know that the people are grateful to this humble labourer?
x. What is the real tribute to the 'Mountain Man', Manjhi?
9. Herc is a brief talk on the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, on April 14th, we come together to celebrate the birth anniversary
of a true champion of social justice and equality, Dr. B.R.Ambedkar. Bo~
on this day in 1891, Dr. Ambedkar's life and achievements continue to inspire
 7
Communicative English-II

and guide us in our ongoing struggle for a fair and equitable society.
Dr. Ambedkar's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance
and determination in the face ofadversity. Despite facing discrimination and
oppression from a young age, he rose to prominence through his unparalleled
intellect a11d unwavering commitment to social reform.
Among his many achievements, Dr. Ambedkar is most. renowned as the
principal architect ofthe Indian Constitution. As the chairman ofthe Drafting
Committee, he played a pivotal role in shaping the foundational document of
independent India, ensuring that it ens~ed the principles ofliberty, equality,·
and justice for all.
Furthermore, Dr. Ambedkar was a tireless advocate for the rights of
marginalized communities, particularly Dalits and women. His relentless efforts
led to the incl usfon of provisions in the Constitution aimed at abolishing caste-
based discrimination and promoting social equality.
Throughout his life, Dr. Ambedkar fought tirelessly for the empowennent
and upliftment of the oppressed. His contributions to the fields of law,
economics, and social reform continue to resonate with people across the
globe.
As we commemorate Dr. Ambedkar, let us not only honor ~is memory
but also recommit ourselves to the values he stood for. Let us strive to build
a society based on equality, justice, and compassion, where every individual
has the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
.. '
Thank you.
\

Ans\\cr the following questions.

i· When was Dr B.R. Ambedkar born?
ii Here, who is a true champion of social justice and equality? •

, >
iii Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chainnan ofthe ___ _ Committee
. .
which shaped the Indian Constitution. Complete the statement.
..
 - - - - - - - - - - - --

Listening Comprehension

1v. What did Dr. B.R. Ambedkar achieve despite facing discrimination from
a young age?
v. What are the three principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution?
vi. Whose rights did Dr. Ambedkar advocate tirelessly?
vii. Dr. Ambedkar's contributions to the fields of_ _~ economics, and
social reform continue to resonate with people across the globe.
Complete the sentence.
viii. Dr. Ambedkar's relentless efforts led to the inclusion of provisions in
the Constitution aimed at abolishing ______. Choose the
correct option.
. .
a) gender-based discrimination b) cast~-based discri~ination
c) racial discrimination d) regional discrimination
.ix. Whose empowerment and upliftment did Dr. Ambedkar fight for
tirelessly ~ughout his life?
x. Identify the word from the passage with the similar meaning of
"relentless".
a) careless b) discrimination
c) disparity d) tireless
10~ Honesty is the Best Policy. . ....
Jataka tales seek to spread n:ioral values. See this. P~ple one~ believed
that the spirit of Bodhisattva lived in a holy castor tree. So, they used to offer
prayers to the tree and place expensive gifts there. A poor man came there
one day, prayed to the tree and wanted to present a piece of bread to the
tree. But, feeli_ng ashamed of his poor gift, he turned back without offering it.
Suddenly, a man appeared b~fore him. He said he was hungry. He ~uested
for that piece of bread. The ~r man happily handed it over to him. Theo, he
informed tha~ poor ma~ about a pot of gold coins in the ground ~ere. The •
man was poor but he was honest. He knew how to play the game. He told the
King about that treasure: Valuing the poor man's honesty, _the King riiade •
. . .
his royal treasurer!
Ans,ver the following questions. •
i What do Jataka Tales aim at? •
ii. Why did people pray to the c~stor .tree?
iii. Apart from praying, what did the-people use to offer to the tree?
I .•

iv.. What did the poo~ ~an want to present to the tree?
. • - . • .. • t . .

v. Pick~the ~ord from.the passage which means soul.

. .

vi. Did the poor man ·give the _bread to the hungry m~n or offer it to . . ~~ . ·- ••

tree?
~ " ' a. .. • • • •~

vii. What did the poof ~an get in return from the hungfy man? • t • • ~ • • • •

viii. T~e poor 1;Ila~ ~appily. t9ok t~e treasur~ an~ bec~n;ie a w~althy pers
..
,. : ... . . . . . . ; • ' . . \. .· .. . • .

instantly. True or False.

ix. Find out the idiom used in the passage to- niean act in fhe corr
manner.
. .. - ' ... .
.,
·x. What is the moral of the story?