Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter :4- Albert Einstein at School

Albert Einstein at School Summary

The lesson begins with little Albert’s encounter with his history teacher, where the teacher is asking him about a particular date from the past and as usual, our unattentive Albert doesn’t know the answer. This moment leads us to a little speech given by Einstein in the class about what “education” should include and what they are being taught is irrelevant. It ends up in him being punished by the teacher, which again, is not new. Then the lesson talks about how Albert disliked his neighbourhood because of all the slum violence and compared it to his best friend, Yuri’s neighbourhood who did not like his’ either. Albert even expresses his worries to his cousin Elsa from Berlin who thinks he can pass if he made a  little effort. At this point, Albert starts strategizing his way to get out of the school and he suddenly gets an idea that involves a doctor who is willing to help him. He wanted the doctor to know that he had a nervous breakdown and prescribe that the root cause of it is school, and he shall stay as far away from it as he could. This is where Yuri agrees and sets up an appointment with his friend, a freshly-qualified doctor who he warns is hard to befool. Albert thinks about his conversation with the doctor so much that at this point, he is actually nervous. On meeting the doctor, he comes to know that Yuri has already told him everything and the doctor is ready to help him. The doctor understands how tiring school can be, asks Albert his plans after he gets out of school and realises he is doing no good to him or anyone by staying there. Thus, he hands him his medical certificate and in turn asks him to take Yuri out for a meal. Although, excited Albert had no money to spare, he took Yuri out for supper. He is next seen with his maths teacher who is giving him a referral to make it easier for him to get into a college for pursuing higher mathematics.

Einstein had studied all the maths they teach in school and even some more. He is then summoned to the head teacher’s room where he is told to walk away as hardly any serious work can be accomplished when he is around. As tempting it was for Albert to tell the head teacher the truth and what he thought about his school, he resisted it and walked straight out of the school with his head high. He said goodbye to his only friend Yuri and Elsa was back in Berlin by that time. At last, Albert was out of school.Q.1: What do you understand of Einstein's nature from his conversations with his history teacher, his mathematics teacher and the head teacher?

Ans : Einstein's behaviour seemed to be extremely unruly. He didn't believe in the then prevailing system of education. His nature was a spontaneous one. He found memorising facts and dates quite useless. Ideas lured him more than facts because of which he had a heated argument on education with his history teacher. He was so restless and indifferent that the importance of attending school that he didn't mind not attending it at all. From his conversation with the Maths teacher, we come to know that he was a student who actually had some interest in mathematics, that being the only class in which he paid a lot of attention and never wasted his time. He wasn't open and outright in front of his Mathematics teacher. His behaviour had turned mild before his teacher which showed his  respect and obedience for elders. Later, when he confronts the headmaster, we find him defensive at the beginning and carefree at the end of the meeting. 

Q.2: The school system often curbs individual talents. Discuss.

Ans : School nowadays is about memorizing a bunch of facts and spitting them back out on a test or exam. There is no learning involved, just memorization. Students should be taught things of importance. The grading system is messed up too. How can you grade something on creativity? You can't. Albert Einstein said Everyone's a genius, but you judge a fish by ability to climb a tree, will spend its whole life believing it is stupid' 

Q.3: How do you distinguish between information gathering and insight formation?

Ans : Information gathering refers to collection of data and facts. It means knowledge of specific events or situations that has been gathered or received by communication. Insight formation, on the other hand, refers to the perception one has of things through his deep understanding of a subject. Insight refers to the capacity to discern the true nature of a situation. Thus, it might differ from person to person, depending on everyone ideas and concepts 

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter :3- Ranga's Marriage

Ranga’s Marriage Summary

It all begins when Ranga, the accountant’s son comes back to his village Hosahalli after six months. He had gone to Bangalore to pursue his studies, which to mention, not many in the village get this opportunity. The whole village gets excited to see Ranga and thus, they gather around his home only to see how he would have changed.The narrator has beautifully elaborated about their village Hosahalli and how every authority responsible forgot to mention it in the maps. Moving on, he admires Ranga and wants to get him married but to his dismay, Ranga has very different views about marriage at that point. The Narrator stages the entire union of Ranga and Ratna, Rama Rao’s eleven-year-old niece.The girl has a very sweet voice and can play Veena and harmonium. At first, the narrator tells him that she is married to see how it affects Ranga. As expected, Ranga was disappointed. The narrator then manipulated the village Shastri to say things in his favor.He then took Ranga to visit him where he predicted that Ranga has a girl on his mind and her name resembles something found in the ocean. Shyama, the narrator guesses her name to be Ratna but again, she is married. On their way back, they confirmed that Ratna is not married only to find Ranga happy and full of hope.On the other hand, the Shastri disagreed on having staged anything predetermined. He claims to have said whatever his predictions showed. However, at the end, Ranga and Ratna are happily married with a three- year old son named after the narrator. Ratna is also pregnant with another child. To conclude, the narrator makes sure that he didn’t bore his readers.

Question 1.

Comment on the influence of English—the language and the way of life—on Indian life as reflected in the story. What is the narrator’s attitude to English ?

Answer:

The story reflects the old lifesytle of India when only a few people knew English. Those knew it never used its words while speaking Kannad. In those olden days, people were simple and did the same like of flock of sheep. The narrator was the true admirer of his village Hosahalli.

He was very cultured and caring but believed in respecting his own mother tongue. He used English when required only. He was also feeling delighted while narrating that no one could notice village people conversing in English in every street of Hosahalli during holidays.

Question 2.

Astrologers’ perceptions are based more on hearsay and conjecture than what they learn from the study of the stars. Comment with reference to the story.

Answer:

Most of the astrologers depend either on the basis of the hearsay or on basis of the information collected from their clientrThe innocent client feels that his astrologer is reading his stars but in fact the crooked fellow robs innocent faces. The same happens in the story when Shyam, the narrator tutors Shastri to vomit the mugged up facts in front of Rangappa that Ratna would be the only suitable match for him according to star cast. The poor Ranga listened to his heart and married Ratna because of the dramatic mockery played by Shyam and Shastri. He got so influenced that he named his son ‘Shyam’ after the narrator.

Question 3.

Indian society has moved a long way from the way the marriage is arranged in the story. Discuss.

Answer:

In today’s world each and every Indian is well-qualified and cultured. As knowledge is increasing same as expectations or vision is getting wider. This deep thought was there in narrator’s mind which gave origin to the story. Narrator has plotted the whole drama to make Ranga realize the marriageable age and how to choose the right partner. He knocked at Ranga’s heart and he welcomed Ratna in. If narrator had asked simply and proposed for Ratna, Ranga might have run away telling so many ifs and buts.

Question 4.

What kind of a person do you think the narrator is?

Answer:

The today’s self-centered fast world no one pains for others. But the narrator is a different man. He not only devotes his time but also selflessly plans for Ranga’s marriage. In fact he extends a mature and experienced help to tender heart and immature mind of Ranga in choosing a right life partner. As a reward of his selfless deed Ranga named his son Shyam after the narrator’s name.

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter : 4- Landscape of the Soul

Landscape of the Soul Summary in English

This chapter divides into two parts, each telling us about art and its history through various stories. In the part taken from ‘Landscape of the Soul: Ethics and Spirituality in Chinese Painting’, we learn about the art of painting through two stories. The first one is about a very popular Chinese painter, Wu Daozi. It is about the eighth century when he was hired by the Tang Emperor Xuanzong to adorn a wall of the palace.Wu painted beautiful scenery with mountains, waterfalls, forests as well as clouds and blue skies with people living harmoniously in a happy environment. However, he painted a cave at the foot of a mountain that was inhabited by a spirit. When the painter was showing his work to the emperor, he claps his hands and an entrance to the cave opens where he gets in and vanishes.Thus, after disappearing, the author says that denotes the knowledge of the mystical inner world. Thus, it says that only the masters are aware of the way within and can go yonder any material form. Similarly, there is another story about another popular Chinese painter who did not draw a dragon’s eye fearing it would become real and fly out of his painting.Next, we have the third one about a master blacksmith, Quinten Metsys, who falls in love with the daughter of a painter. As the father was not accepting of his son-in-law belonging to such a profession, he still did so. He accepted Quinten because he painted a fly on his board. It had such gentle realism that it resembled a real one. Further, the author also talks about Chinese philosophy, Shanshui, meaning mountain water.Finally, the second part of ‘Getting Inside ‘Outsider Art’ by Brinda Suri talks about the concept of ‘art brut’. Art Brut translates to the art of the ones who have ‘no right’ to be artists. It is because they lack any formal training yet somehow possess artistic talent and insight. She refers to them as the ones who think outside the box and defy the normal standards. People refer to their work as ‘unorthodox’ art. She cites the example of Nek Chand’s work at Rock Garden in Chandigarh is a form of art brut.

Understanding the Text

1. (i) Contrast the Chinese view of art with the European view with examples.

Ans: The Chinese form of art is based on imagination and shows inner and spiritual approach of the artist. Whereas, the European art form is real and reproduces an actual view of the object from the landscape.

(ii) Explain the concept of shanshui.

Ans: Shanshui is a Chinese concept of art which means ‘mountain water’. It is used together to represent the word ‘landscape’. The two complementary poles (yin and yang) of an image reflect the Daoist view.

2. (i) What do you understand by the terms ‘outsider art’ and ‘art brut’ or ‘raw art’?

Ans: ‘Outsider Art’ is the art made by untrained artists, for example children or mentally ill person. ‘Art Brut’ or ‘Raw Art’ is a type of art made by people who are not professionals but they create an art piece with their own depth and understanding and not from the stereotypical form of classical or fashionable art.

(ii) Who was the “untutored genius who created a paradise” and what is the nature of his contribution to art?

Ans: “Untutored genius who created a paradise” was Nek Chand. He was an eighty year old creator – director who made the world famous Rock Garden in Chandigarh. He used everything from a tin to sink or anything which he felt as an art form. One of his famous creations are ‘Women by the Waterfall’.

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter : 3- Discovering Tut : the Saga Continues

Discovering Tut: the Saga Continues Summary in English

Tutankhamun was the last leader of the great Pharaoh Dynasty. He was young when he died. According to some people, his death was a murder. In the year 1922, his tomb was exposed by Howard Carter, an Archaeologist. After 80 years, he was taken for the CT scan to solve the mystery of his life and death through a forensic reconstruction.

His father or grandfather, Amenhotep III, was a very powerful Pharaoh ruler over a period of 40 years. Moreover, his son, Amenhotep IV, succeeded him and initiated the strangest period in the history of Egypt. His name changed to Akhenaten which means servant of Athens. He changed the religious capital from Thebes to Amarna. Later he attacked Amun, a god, ruined his images and shut his temples. Another mysterious ruler thrived him who died very soon. Tutankhamun sat on the power and ruled for 9 years.

When Tut’s mummified body was found, he had lots of gold and wealth. Carter got him after so many years. After conducting the research on the treasures, he planned to examine his 3 nested boxes. Many parts of the treasure in the tomb were already misplaced.

His tomb was found rock-cut, 26 feet under the ground, which also had some wall paintings. It reveals that he was suppressed in the months of March or April. One of the coffin put Carter into trouble. The gums used to paste Tut to the lowest of the solid gold. Coffin was toughening enough that made it impossible to displace. He put the box in the sun for numerous hours so that the resins lose up but that didn’t work.

At last, he removed the adhesive with the chisel and hammer. Carter sensed he didn’t have any other choice than cutting the mummy from limb to limb, thieves would have robbed the gold and the treasures. His men first removed the head of the mummy, then they cut off each and every joint. After the process of removing all the body parts, they placed it on the layer of sand. They kept the parts in a wooden box and placed it at the original place.

Later, in January 2009, the body was taken for a CT scan which takes hundreds of X-Rays and generates a 3D image. That night after the scan, the workmen passed his body from the tomb into a box. They went through the ramp and stairs and lifted the body on a hydraulic trailer that was holding the scanner. The scanner suddenly stopped working and the process of the CT scan stopped. After the use of a pair of spare fans, the scan was finally completed. After 3 hours, they transferred his body back to his tomb where his body is now resting in peace.

Question 1.

Give reasons for the following :
(i) King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny.
(ii) Howard Carter’s investigation was resented.
(iii) Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s remain.
(iv) Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.
(v) The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.
Answer:
(i) King Tut of Egypt was merely a teenager when he died. He belonged to a very powerful family that had ruled Egypt and its empire for centuries. He was the last heir his family. King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny to know more about his life and the manner in which he died. Howard Carter, a British archaeologist discoverd Tut’s tomb in 1922.

Since then the modem world has speculated about what happened to him. Even the possibility of his murder is not ruled out. The repeated scrutiny will after new clues about his life and death. That is why his dead body was bronght under CT scanner to probe medical mysteries about him.

(ii) Haward Carter, the British archaeologist had discovered Tut’s tomb in 1922. Carter’s investigation was resented because the mummy was in very bad condition due to what he did to it while investigating. This is what Zahi Hawass, Secretary-General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, felt. To separate Tut from his adomaments, Carter’s men removed the mummy’ head and severed nearly every major joint.

(iii) Howard Carter had discovered Tut’s tomb in 1922 after years of futile search¬ing. When he finally reached the mummy, he ran into trouble. The ritual resins had hardened, cementing Tut to the botton of his solid gold coffin. As Carter wrote later, no amount of legitimate force could move the resins. He set the mummy outside in blazing sunshine that heated it to 149 degrees Fahrenheit. But it had no affect at all. That is why the consolidated material or the solidified resins had to chisel away to raise the king’s remains.

(iv) Tut’s body was buried alongwith gilded treasures : precious collars, inlaid necklaces and bracelets, rings, amulets, a ceremonial apron, sandals, sheaths for his fingers and toes, inner coffin and mask—all of pure gold. In Tut’s time the royals were fabulously wealthy. They thought or hoped that they could take their riches with them. That is why Tut’s body was buried alongwith gilded treasures

(v) The boy King Tut’s original name was Tutankhaten. When a very young Tutankhaten took the throne, he soon changed his name to Tutankhamun, which means the “living image of Amun”, and oversaw a restoration of the old ways.

Question 2.
(i) List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as ‘wacky’.
Answer:
The new pharoah Amenhotep IV promoted the worship of the Aten, the sun disk. That is why he changed his name to Akhenaten, or “servant of the Aten”. He moved the religious capital from the old city of Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten, known as Amama.

He also shocked the country by attacking Amun a major god, smashing his images and closing his temples. Calling it “a horrfic time,” Ray Johnson, director of the university of Chicago’s research center in Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes said “and then Akhenaten went a little wacky”. Due to his unusual and strong acts, Ray Johnson calls him as crazy.

(ii) What were the results of the CT scan ?
Answer:
The dead body of the boy King Tut had undergone a CT (computed tomography) scan that offers new clues about his life and death. It also provides precise data for an accurate reconstruction of the boyish pharaoh. CT scan was performed at 6 p.m. an January 5, 2005.

Consequently, a technician pulled up astomishing images of Tut on a computer screen. A grey head took shape from a scattering of pixels, and the technician spun and tilted it in every direction. Similarly neck vertebrae appeared very clearly. Other images revealed a hand, several views of the rib cage, and a transaction of the skull. The mummy was scanned by CT machine from head to toe, creating 1700 digital X-ray images.

(iii) List the advances in technology that have improved forensic analysis.
Answer:
Much more than an X-ray, a CT (Computed tomography) scan provides precise data for an accurate forensic analysis. Thus now diagnastic imaging can be done with computed tomography, or CT, by which hundreds of X-rays in cross section are put together like slices of bread to create three dimensional virtual body.

Thus the mummy of the King Tut was scanned by a CT scanner from head to toe, creating 1700 digital X-ray images in cross section. Tut’s head; scanned 0.62 millimeter slices to register its intricate structures, takes on eerie detail in the resulting image. Tut’s entire body was similarly recorded. Then a team of specialists in radiology, forensics, and anatomy began to probe the secrets about him.

(iv) Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned in death, as in life ”
Answer:
King Tut reigned for about nine years and then he died unexpectedly. As a boy king who was famous and his life being so short, he was scrutinized closely in his life. King Tut is also one of the first mummies to be scanned with a portable CT machine. That is why the author says that King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned in life on in death.

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter: 7- The Wonder Called Sleep with the concerned video

The Wonder Called Sleep Summary 

Sleep is a state of rest, where the body recovers from fatigue. One becomes alert and active again. Dreams help us with sound sleep. When we sleep our body relaxes.

The deeper the sleep is, the more muscle is relaxed. Heartbeat slows down, temperature and blood pressure goes down too when we take rest. And everything becomes normal again when we wake up.

The dream is an activity of the mind when we fall asleep. Dreams help to sleep through noise or other disturbances. Doctors think that dreams may be due to problems prevailing in one’s life. And if interpreted correctly they may help in finding a solution to that persisting problem.

The poet describes that sleep takes us away from everything, nothing can stop from entering into the world of dreams. Sleep is a healer in every sense.1. What is the most obvious advantage of sleep?

Ans: The most obvious advantage of sleep is that it gives rest to our tired body. After a good sleep we become alert and active again for the day’s work.

2. What happens to our body when we sleep?

Ans: When we sleep, our body gets much needed rest. Our muscles relax. Our heartbeat slows down. Our blood pressure also falls.

3. Define a dream in your own words.

Ans: A dream is an activity of the mind that takes place when we are asleep.

4. Why are dreams important? Mention two reasons.

Ans: Dreams are important for two reasons:

(i)They help us sleep in spite of noise and other disturbances.

(ii)Some dreams provide a solution to certain problems.

5. Why has sleep been called a wonder?

Ans: Sleep has been called a wonder because nobody knows for certain what brings about sleep. Secondly, it transports us to a strange land. It is the sweetest thing in the world. It is a sort of escape from reality

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter: 7- Fair Play with the concerned video

Summary

Jumman Shaikh and Algu Chaudhary were very good friends. They were known for their loyalty and service to each other. Their friendship was a support to their families as well. The village people respected them a lot for this.

Jumman’s aunt transferred her property to Jumman on the condition that he would look after her throughout her remaining life. But after a couple of years Jumman and his wife changed their behaviour. She was not treated well by them and had to face a tough time. She was not given food. When things went beyond limits, she spoke to Jumman and asked him to give her some money on a monthly basis so that she could run her house independently. Jumman neglected her words and insulted her. So, she dared to  take the matter to the Panchayat. She chose Algu, Jumman’s best friend, as her head Panch. Being a Panch Algu had no choice but to speak the truth. He gave his judgment in  aunt’s favour. Now Jumman had to pay a fixed monthly amount to his aunt as per the judgment. Somehow, Jumman was not able to take this in the right spirit. He developed hatred against Algu.

Few days later, Algu was caught up in a fix (difficult situation). One of his pair of bullocks died so he sold his other bullock to Samjhu Sahu. He was supposed to pay money within a month. But alas!  The sold bullock died before the expiry of the period of the payment. So, Samjhu was not ready to pay money to Algu. Now  Algu was left with no other option but to take  the case to the Panchayat.This time, Samjhu Sahu appointed Jumman, now, enemy of Algu as the head Panch. As the head Panch Jumman realized that the responsibility of a head Panch is above everything in this world. Algu was afraid of losing the case but Jumman had to speak  the truth. So he  gave judgment in his favour and ordered Sahu to pay the money to Algu.

Algu was so overwhelmed that he declared aloud that the voice of the Panch is the voice of God.

C. Answer the following questions.

1. “Then the situation changed.” What is being referred to?

2. When Jumman’s aunt realized that she was not welcome in his house, what arrangement did she suggest?

3. What was the villagers’ reaction when the aunt explained her case to them?

4. Why was Jumman happy over Algu’s nomination as head Panch?

5. “God lives in the heart of the Panch.” the aunt said. What did she mean?

6. What was Algu’s verdict as head Panch? How did Jumman take it?

7. Algu found himself in a tight spot. What was his problem?

8. Why was Algu upset over Jumman’s nomination as head Panch?

9. What was Jumman’s verdict as head Panch? How did Algu take it?

10. Which of the following sums up the story best?

(i) “I also know that you will not kill your conscience for the sake of friendship.”

(ii) “Let no one deviate from the path of justice and truth for friendship or enmity.”

(iii) “The voice of the Panch is the voice of God.”

Answers

1. This is being referred to Jumman and his family. The situation where his aunt transferred the whole property to his name and after some time they started misbehaving with her.

2. She suggested Jumman to give her some amount of money to enable her to have a separate kitchen.

3. Different people had different reactions. Some pitied her, some made fun of her and some suggested her to patch up with her nephew and his wife.

4.He was happy because Algu was his best friend. He thought that his friend would never go against him.

5. She means to say that a Panch is a position of higher respect and a position holder

has no choice other than being impartial and unbiased.

6. Algu’s verdict as head Panch was that Jumman had to give some amount of money to his aunt to enable her to run her kitchen separately. Otherwise, she had every right to take her property back from him. Jumman could not take it in the right spirit and he considered Algu as his enemy.

7. His problem was that Samjhu Sahu whom he had sold one of his bullock was cheating on him and was not ready to pay him.

8. Algu was upset because at that time Jumman was his enemy. He was scared of his unjust behaviour and judgment.

9. Jumman’s verdict was that Samjhu had to pay money to Algu for the bullock he purchased from Algu as at the time of purchase he had no suffering. Algu was overwhelmed with emotion and he embraced Jumman.

10. These words “The voice of the Panch is the voice of God” It sums up the story the best.

Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter: 6- The Monkey & the Crocodile with the concerned video

Summary of The Monkey and the Crocodile

This is a story of a friendship between a monkey and a crocodile. A monkey lived alone in a fruit-laden tree on a riverbank. He was very happy but used to feel lonely. He wanted to have someone to talk to.

One day, a crocodile came near that tree and the monkey offered him fruit to eat. The crocodile found it delicious and started coming daily. Soon they became very good friends. They both liked each other’s company.

They discussed everything around them like birds, animals, villagers and their problems. Their closeness grew day by day.

The crocodile did not just eat the fruit himself but also carried some fruits for his wife. But his wife didn’t like his friendship with the monkey. She expressed a wish to eat the monkey’s heart.To keep his wife’s words he invited his friend monkey to have dinner with him. While taking the monkey to his home, he told him the truth about his wife’s wish.

Hearing that the monkey asked the crocodile to go back to the river as he had forgotten his heart on the tree. The crocodile swam back and reached the river bank.

The monkey quickly jumped onto the tree and threw some fruits to the crocodile and bade goodbye to the crocodile.

1.The monkey was happy living in the fruit tree, but his happiness was not complete. What did he miss?

A. He missed a companion. He wanted to have someone to talk to.

2. What did the two friends generally talk about?

A. They talked about birds and animals, villagers and their challenges.

3. Why was the crocodile’s wife annoyed with her husband one day?

A. She was annoyed because he got late and she had to manage the little ones all alone. She wanted to know who was so dear to him.

4. Why was the crocodile unwilling to invite his friend home?

A. He was unwilling because he knew that his wife would eat the monkey and he didn’t want to cheat him.

5. What did the crocodile tell the monkey midstream?

A. The crocodile told his intention of taking him home midstream.He told that his wife wanted his heart to eat.

6. How did the monkey save himself?

A. The monkey saved himself very cleverly in a wise manner. He told him that he had forgotten his heart on the tree.

7. What does the last sentence of the story suggest? What would the crocodile tell his wife?

A.The last sentence suggests that the crocodile repented losing a good friend. He would tell his wife about his foolishness. He would tell her that it was not a wise decision to pay attention to her words and cheat a friend.