OTBA-ENGLISH
THEME 2 Future is now- A Zest for Living
Q1) Many handicapped people have triumphed over their
limitations to achieve greatness in a variety of fields. What do you think has
made this possible?
Ans. Modern technological developments and change
in attitude towards disability have helped many handicapped people to achieve
greatness in their respective fields. In addition to that, their
self-confidence and belief that every problem can be solved has played a major
role.
2.One
of the main problems faced by physically challenged people is the lack of
employment. Why do you think this has become a norm?
Ans The
reason behind the unemployment of the physically challenged people is the
prejudice people have towards them. We fail to accept the fact that these
people can be as good as any of us in a particular work. Also, such people have
fewer options for acquiring knowledge and skills. This renders them almost
incapable of getting a normal job.
3. Justify
the title 'The Future is Now'.
Ans. The speeches by Dr. Stromer and
Dr. Barnard highlight the importance of living in the moment. Suffering is a
universal truth. Whether one is disabled or is suffering due to a mishap, the experience
of suffering in itself should not be a reason to retreat. It should rather be a
source of encouragement to enjoy what we have. Instead of dwelling in the past
and wondering about the future, we should live life with zest and a spirit of
adventure. Hence, the title is apt for it tells the physically handicapped
people born in today’s world to live it one minute at a time and to the best of
their ability.
Ans. Dr.
Stromer is addressing the parents of physically handicapped children in his
speech. Through this speech, he highlights the importance of living life in the
present, without any regret or worries.
5. Charu's son is mentally retarded
since birth. She wants her son to be successful in life. But she remains
confused and depressed as she is not able to understand how to help him to be
independent. On being advised to meet an expert, she retorts saying that she is
a better expert than any counsellor. Based on the given text, how can you say
that she was right?
Ans. Charu has more first-hand and practical experience
than a counsellor. She spends all her time taking care of her mentally retarded
child. Compared to this, most counsellors deal with such a problem for only a
few hours every day. Hence, she was right in pointing out that she is a better
expert that any counsellor.
6. Explain the role of
religion in the discourse of disability based on your reading of the text.
Ans .Religion
has been playing a very important role in our daily lives since time
immemorial. In the discourse of disability too, religion influences how people
react to and explain it. Earlier, disabled people were segregated and separated
from the society. Many belief systems attributed disability to sin and evil. As
a result, people barely endeavoured to find a medical cure. With time,
religious leaders started to urge people to be more sympathetic towards the
disabled. Today, we find many religious institutions that are involved in
taking proper care of such people. Religion is an effective vehicle to bring
about a change in public perception about disability.
7. How can differently abled
people remain happy?
Ans. Differently abled people can
be happy if they are given independence, encouragement and confidence, and
considered a part of the average population. Moreover, happiness is a
perspective. Disabled people need to be optimistic and consider life to be
enjoyable and challenging.
8. How can differently abled
people remain happy?
Ans. Differently abled people can
be happy if they are given independence, encouragement and confidence, and
considered a part of the average population. Moreover, happiness is a
perspective. Disabled people need to be optimistic and consider life to be
enjoyable and challenging.
9. Your neighbours have a visually
impaired ten-year old child. They are over-protective of him. They hardly let
him do anything on his own. Write an email to your cousin stating that you do
not approve of the parents' way of handling their child emphasising on how this
would affect the child.
Ans. From: shivali@tmail.com
To: urvashi@xyz.com
Date: 3 June 20xx
Subject: The kid next door
Dear Urvashi,
I am doing great here and I hope
the same for you. Through this mail, I want to share with you my concern for a
young boy who lives next door.
Last month, a new family moved in
to the house next to ours. They have a young boy of ten. Initially, I noticed
that the parents are quite doting, never leaving their child alone. It was only
last week that I realised he is in fact completely blind. Yesterday, I heard
him express his anger over their excessive protection. He has started to get
irritable. I think he wants some freedom and independence. And, it is important
so as to instill in him confidence to face the world outside. What do you think
I should do? I hope to receive a reply soon.
Convey my regards to your
parents. Take good care of yourself.
Yours lovingly,
Shivali
10. Why was Dr. Barnard angry
after he and his wife met with an accident?
Ans. After Dr. Barnard and his
wife met with an accident, he was angry because he could not understand why
they had to experience suffering and pain. Unlike his father, he did not
believe that suffering could do any good to a person.
11. Why was Dr. Barnard angry after
he and his wife met with an accident?
Ans. After Dr. Barnard and his
wife met with an accident, he was angry because he could not understand why
they had to experience suffering and pain. Unlike his father, he did not
believe that suffering could do any good to a person.
12. How does the society show
its concern towards those who are handicapped or are suffering in some way or
the other? Is that sufficient? How do you think can we make the world a better
place for such people?
Ans. Society shows its concern
for the handicapped people in various ways. There are many government and
religious organizations and NGOs that work for the welfare of the physically challenged. Scientists
are incessantly trying to development medical science and technology for their
treatment. Mass media has been successfully bringing to light the lives of many
such people. However, the fact that discrimination still exists proves that
this is not sufficient. What is important, therefore, is to create awareness
among people so as to bring about a gradual change in the everyday treatment of
the handicapped people.
13. Do you think that the ancient
Greeks and Romans' treatment of their physically challenged babies was
justified?
Ans. In ancient times, the lack
of resources turned each day into a fight for survival. In such a situation, a
physically handicapped child was a liability. Thus, we can say that the ancient Greeks and Romans'
treatment of their physically challenged babies was somewhat justified.
14.“We cannot appreciate light unless we have known
darkness. Nor can we appreciate warmth unless we had suffered cold.” Do you think the fact Dr. Stromer's blindness and
Dr. Barnard's personal sufferings have made them more sensitive towards
handicapped people? Explain.
Ans. Yes, the given statement is
true. Often personal experiences help us to understand the plight of others.
The fact that Dr. Stromer was blind helped him to understand the blind and the
other physically challenged children, and also offer advice regarding their
care or handling. Similarly, Dr. Barnard's loss of his brother and his roadside
accident helped him understand more deeply the sufferings of others.
15.“We cannot appreciate light unless we have known
darkness. Nor can we appreciate warmth unless we had suffered cold.” Do you think the fact Dr. Stromer's blindness and
Dr. Barnard's personal sufferings have made them more sensitive towards
handicapped people? Explain.
Ans. Yes, the given statement is
true. Often personal experiences help us to understand the plight of others.
The fact that Dr. Stromer was blind helped him to understand the blind and the
other physically challenged children, and also offer advice regarding their
care or handling. Similarly, Dr. Barnard's loss of his brother and his roadside
accident helped him understand more deeply the sufferings of others.
16. Dharvi wants to be a role model for
her physically challenged daughter. After reading the text, what suggestion
would you give her?
Ans. Dharvi should be gentle
yet tough while handing her physically challenged daughter. She should be objective and give her daughter freedom to
do what she likes. She should encourage her to take chances and relish the life
she has.
17.
Treatment of physically
challenged people has changed a lot over time. Do you think the way we treat
them today is ideal? If not, what are the flaws and how can they be rectified?
Ans. Treatment of physically
challenged people has changed a lot over time. Organisations have opened up and
medical technology has advanced rapidly. Media and religion too have played
their part well. However, the way we treat our physically handicapped people is
far from ideal. These people are often ill-treated and pitied. This can be
changed once we start considering these people to be at par with the other
members of our society, especially when it comes to education and employment.
These people should be given the choice of choosing their own path to
happiness. Moreover, they need our empathy not sympathy to lead a successful
life.
18.Dr. Barnard and his
father had different views regarding the concept of suffering. Whose point of
view do you think the two children who played with the breakfast trolley
adhered to? Give a reasoned answer.
Ans. Dr. Barnard's father
believed that suffering ennobles a person. However, Dr. Barnard believed that
it is not the suffering, but the experience of suffering that makes one noble.
The two children adhered to the view of Dr. Barnard. The sufferings experienced
by them, made them wiser. They learnt to be happy with what they have instead
of brooding over what is lost.
19. What hurts the pride of physically handicapped
people and why?
Ans. What hurts the pride of physically handicapped
people and why?
20 Why does Dr. Barnard call
the push-cart game the Grand Prix of Cape Town's Red Cross Children's hospital?
Ans. The term Grand Prix refers
to a car race usually over a long, risky course. Dr. Barnard views the
breakfast trolley as an automobile that the two physically disabled boys drive.
It is a metaphor for the race of life, which they won because they knew it was
an adventure to enjoy.
21. Do you agree that we are as happy
as we want to be? Why?
Happiness is subjective. Often we
feel that there are certain things that one requires in order to be contented.
Hence, whenever we see some ailing or handicapped person, some begger, etc., we
feel they can never be happy. However, both Dr. Stromer and Dr. Barnard have
correctly pointed out that sufferings need not be a reason for unhappiness.
Every individual has his or her own source of finding joy. The basic premise is
that if we are satisfied with what we have and do not feel sorry for what we do
not have, we can be truly happy and satisfied.
22. What point does Dr. Stromer
establish by quoting Bismarck and Kipling?
Ans. By
quoting Bismarck and Kipling, Dr. Stromer tries to establish the fact that we
should live life at the moment and make the most of what we have. Sufferings
and pain should not bow us down.
23. What role has the media played in creating awareness about the
physically handicapped members of the society and their lives?
Ans. Media can be very effective
in bringing about a greater understanding about the problems faced by
physically handicapped people. Movies, TV shows, radio programmes and forms of
print media highlight disability issues and garner support for the welfare of
the handicapped. Many such projects are initiatives of the disabled persons.
All these together help break the barrier between the society and these people.
24. Often, our demeanour depends on our attitudes and beliefs. Elucidate
with reference to the text.
Ans. Our attitudes and beliefs
affect the way we treat others. We seldom try to identify with someone's
situation before passing on our judgment. This is particularly true when we
come into contact with those who are 'different' from us, including the
disabled people. We do not provide them with equal regard and rights. We
consider them incapable of executing most tasks. We also consider their
situations to be tragic and expect them to indulge in self-pity. Whenever a
physically handicapped person accomplishes something, we are taken by surprise.
In a sense, it is our attitude that is keeping them from leading a normal life.
25. If a child with a physical
deformity visited Dr. Barnard for treatment, then what do you think
would have been his reaction and why?
Ans. Dr. Barnard was specially
touched by the suffering of children. Hence, if a child with a physical
deformity visited him, he would definitely try to encourage him or her to he
happy and confident. He would also try his level best to treat him or her.
26. Why does the author ask us to “believe sincerely that raw fish tastes
good”?
Ans. Here, raw fish is a metaphor
for our personal choices. If we believe that what we have is the best option,
we can be truly happy. What others opine is only secondary. This is true even
in the case of handicapped people. We should give them the freedom to do what
they want. We should let them decide what they enjoy and love the most.
27. Do you think it was correct for Dr. Stromer to say that the caption
“Tough, but oh so gentle” should guide the lives of the parents of handicapped
children? Why?
Ans. Yes, Dr. Stromer was right. If the parents are
too gentle, they would lack the detachment of perspective. They would never be
able to understand the fact that the pride of a handicapped person is in living
like any other person without deformity, i.e. without any external help. In other
words, they desire freedom. Thus, parents should not be overtly caring. They
should be gentle and understanding, but at the same time, they should not rob
their children off the courage to face the world on their own. Moreover, though
a parent is pained to see his or her child suffer due to the handicap, they
should put forth a strong face and teach their child to enjoy life and its
challenges.
28. Do you think it was correct for Dr. Stromer to say that the caption
“Tough, but oh so gentle” should guide the lives of the parents of handicapped
children? Why?
Ans. Yes, Dr. Stromer was right. If the parents are
too gentle, they would lack the detachment of perspective. They would never be
able to understand the fact that the pride of a handicapped person is in living
like any other person without deformity, i.e. without any external help. In other
words, they desire freedom. Thus, parents should not be overtly caring. They
should be gentle and understanding, but at the same time, they should not rob
their children off the courage to face the world on their own. Moreover, though
a parent is pained to see his or her child suffer due to the handicap, they
should put forth a strong face and teach their child to enjoy life and its
challenges.
29. How tragic, how difficult.' Is this the
correct way to react to the problems of a handicapped person? Justify you
answer.
Ans. No, this is not the correct
way to react. Instead of expressing pity, we should encourage such a person to
face the eventualities of life with confidence and with a spirit of adventure.
Besides, their life need not always be tragic. Hence, it is wrong to consider a
person unhappy without knowing his take on the difficulties he has to face in
life.
30. Based on your reading of
the text, write a speech to be delivered in your school assembly on the
occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Break Barriers, Open
Doors
Good
morning to one and all. Today, I shall express my views on the occasion of International Day of Persons with
Disabilities, which is observed annually on December 3.
Approximately 15% of the world's
population suffers from one or the other form of disability. Yet, many of these
people are still deprived of education, employment and even dignity. There are people who pity the handicapped and try to help them
in one way or the other. However, one should not disregard the fact that such
things merely hurt the self-respect and pride of these differently abled
people.
It
is important that we stop discriminating such people. They should be provided
with equal opportunities and rights in all aspect of life−political,
social, economic and cultural. For this, we need to understand these people and
the problems they face. Necessary steps must be taken by those in authority for
the equal participation of persons with disabilities in all development
processes.
Thank
you.
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