English Guru

  Working with words

A. The words/phrases in the box are from the text. Check their meanings in a dictionary and use these words to complete the given sentences.

redwood, propane, occasional, wake-up call, logging, detrimental, stint,

resolution, transformation, debris

a. Logging is one of the main reasons behind the rapid deforestation in the world.

b. That's one example of how the pandemic should be a wake-up call.

c. Propane is a gas used as a fuel for cooking and heating.

d. Emergency teams are still clearing the debris from the plane crash.

e. What a transformation! You look great.

f. My father made a New Year resolution to give up smoking.

g. He has worked in the Army for two years. He hates that two-year detrimental.

h. Emissions from the factory are widely suspected of having a/an stint effect on health.

i. My father is an occasional smoker. He doesn't smoke often.

j. Redwood is a very tall type of tree that grows especially in California and Oregan.

B. The words redwood, barefoot, single-burner, short-term, fast-paced, mudslide, windstorm and childhood from the above text are made of two words and they yield a new meaning. Compound words can be written in three ways: open compounds (spelled as two words, e.g., ice cream), closed compounds (joined to form a single word, e.g., doorknob), or hyphenated compounds (two words joined by a hyphen, e.g., long-term). Choose one word from each box to make sensible compound words.

rattle, sun, touch, moon, day, fire, water, basket, pass, wash, weather, grand, cross

down, port, light, snake, cloth, mother, walk, flower, dream, man, ball, works, melon

Rattle +snake = Rattlesnake

Sun + flower = Sunflower

Touch + down = Touchdown

Moon + light = Moonlight

Day + dream = Daydream

Fire + works = Fireworks

Water + melon = Watermelon

Basket + ball = Basketball

Pass + port= Passport

Wash + cloth = Washcloth

Weather + man= Weatherman

Grand + mother = Grandmother

Cross + walk= Crosswalk

C. Match the following words/phrases related to the ecology with their meanings. Words/Phrases Meanings

a. sustainability           ii. to keep in existence; maintain. To supply with necessities or nourishment

b. tree line                   i. the height on a mountain above which the climate is too cold for trees to grow

c. precipitation          iv. water that returns to the earth as rain, hail, sleet, or snow

d. tropical zone          x. the region between latitudes 23.5 degrees S and 23.5

e. Kyoto Protocol      iii. an agreement between countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. It was established in Japan in 1997 but didn't become international law until 2004

f. pollutants               vii. substances that destroy the purity of air, water, or land

g. geosphere              vi. the soils, sediments, and rock layers of the Earth's crust, both continental and beneath the ocean floors

h. deciduous               ix. a plant that sheds all or nearly all its leaves each year

i. ephemeral               viii. an organism that has a short life cycle

j. trash                        v. items that are discarded

    Writing

A. Write a review of a book/film which you have read/watched recently.

 'Chhakka Panja 4'

 

Director:  Hem Raj BC.

Producers: Dipendra Khaniya, Keshav Neupane, Kedar Ghimire, Nirmal Sharma

Starring Characters:

  Raja (Deepak Raj Giri): The main protagonist

  Deepa Shree Niraula

Magne Buddha (Kedar Ghimire): Raja's best friend

    Champa (Benisha Hamal)

    Buddhi (Buddhi Tamang)

     Neer Shah: 

Release Date: March 3, 2023

Duration: About 2 hours 15 minutes.

Genre: Political comedy drama

Language: Nepali

Chhakka Panja 4 is one of Hem Raj's BC's best films, a political comedy-drama. Deepak Raj Giri's narrative and conversation keep the viewer glued to the screen. The makers have gone to great lengths to offer a complete family entertainment image that makes viewers laugh and keep entertained.

The movie depicts a clash between Nepal's media and political forces. Deepak Raj Giri, Deepa Shree Niraula, Keadar Ghimire, and Buddhi Tamang play significant parts in the film. The movie achieved commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing Nepali film of the year 2023.

Dik Vijay (Deepak Raj Giri): Though he's technically a protagonist by association, Dik Vijay's actions and motivations place him in opposition to Raja and his friends. As the son of Nirvaya Singh, he becomes corrupted by power and resorts to manipulation and scheming to further his own agenda, creating conflict for the core group.

Raja (Deepak Raj Giri) and his friends live their carefree lives, known for their comedic antics and loyalty towards each other. Nirvaya Singh (Neer Shah), a powerful political figure, falls ill, leaving his ambitious son Dik Vijay (also played by Deepak Raj Giri) in a position of influence. Dik Vijay's rise to power fuels his corrupt desires, and he clashes with Raja's values and sense of justice. As Dik Vijay's schemes unfold, it create conflicts within the group, testing their friendship and forcing them to make difficult choices. Broader societal issues like corruption and greed become woven into the narrative,  adding complexity and depth to the central conflict. Raja grapples with internal struggles as he navigates loyalty, personal beliefs, and the consequences of Dik Vijay's actions. Each character experiences growth and transformation throughout the film, facing their own personal challenges and contributing to the resolution of the main conflict. Through humor, wit, and teamwork, Raja and his friends overcome the obstacles thrown their way by Dik Vijay and his schemes. The film concludes with a satisfying resolution that reflects the core values of friendship, justice, and overcoming challenges.

B. Your school is going to organize a speech competition on coming Friday. The subject of the speech is “Let’s save the trees and protect our environment.” Draft a speech using the following prompts.

Natural world – plants, elements, and animals –billions of living beings and billions of trees- environment – entire air, soil, trees, water- co-existence of all good environment- human being -greedy/selfish/consumerist- thinking him owner- other things property- urbanization- industrialization- road construction canal/dam construction- airport construction- loss of trees- control greed/appetite- good environment- quality life- bad environment- bad life

    

    Good morning everyone, respectable Chairman, Chief guest, respected guests, esteemed judges,     my Guru, Guru Aama, and my dear friends.

    Today, I stand before you not just as a participant in this competition, but as a concerned citizen, as a voice for the voiceless – the trees. The theme of our speech competition, "Let's save the trees and protect our environment," resonates deeply within me, urging us to contemplate the future we are constructing, brick by brick, leaf by a falling leaf.

    Our natural world, teeming with plants, animals, and billions of trees, is an intricate tapestry woven together by delicate threads of interdependence. The very air we breathe, the soil that nourishes us, the water that quenches our thirst – all are intricately linked to the silent sentinels standing tall around us: the trees. They are the lungs of our planet, filtering pollutants, releasing life-giving oxygen, and creating a haven for countless living beings.

    Yet, amidst this harmonious co-existence, a storm brews. Driven by greed, by the insatiable hunger of consumerism, humanity often forgets its place within this delicate ecosystem. We see ourselves as owners, the other beings as mere property, waiting to be exploited for our comfort and progress. Urbanization, industrialization, road construction – each advancement seems to come at the cost of another fallen giant, another lost lung. Canals, dams, and airports rise where vibrant forests once stood, leaving behind scars on the Earth's skin.

    But how long can we afford this unchecked appetite? Every tree lost is a breath stolen, a drop of water poisoned, a home destroyed. A good environment is the bedrock of a good life, and a bad environment, as we are witnessing, leads to a life fraught with challenges – climate change, pollution, and resource scarcity. The choice is ours: continue down the path of destruction, or stand tall for the trees, stand tall for ourselves.

    The control lies within us. We can be the generation that mends the broken threads, that chooses sustainable practices over fleeting gains. Let us plant a tree for every one we lose, let us demand responsible development, let us embrace eco-friendly choices in our daily lives. Remember, saving the trees isn't just about them; it's about us, about the future we envision for ourselves and for generations to come.

    So, I urge you, my fellow students, to become the guardians of the green. Let your voices rise in defense of the trees, let your actions speak louder than words. Let us stand tall, together, and pledge to save the trees, to protect our environment, and to secure a future where we and the natural world can thrive in harmony.

Thank you.