How Sane Are We
Four Levels
of Interaction By Anuradha Chaudhary
Literal Comprehension:
This essay is
written by Anuradha Chaudhary and she focuses on the consciousness of
environment and need of its conservation. As we are responsible for destroying
nature its conservation is also our responsibility. We should not destroy
anything in nature, they are not only for us; they are the gifts handed over to
give or hand over our many generations. But there is vast destruction of nature
in the world but less effort for saving and conserving nature. We think ecology
and politics are closely linked although many people do not see any link between
them. As elections are held to select our representatives, the representatives,
whom we trust best, become ministers. So we easily think that they make only
good decisions always for all but our representatives or ministers are wrong;
they do just opposite; they think only their benefit, chair, party and vote.
Many people think that political leaders are trustworthy so, who trust them
cannot believe that they are irresponsible towards nature.
Chloroflurocarbons(CFC)
are man-made chemicals. They cause 20% of the greenhouse effect. They cause to
deplete the ozone layer which is like a shield around earth. This absorbs 99%
of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. If the rays reach the earth, they will affect
ecosystem, decrease agricultural productivity, weaken human immune system,
cause skin cancer and eye cataracts. In 1920 CFCs were first made to use in
refrigerators, spray cans, computer chips, air-conditioners etc. In 1974, the
world’s scientists disclosed the fact that there is link between CFCs and the
ozone layer, but nations and CFCs producers turned deaf ears towards the
warning. Only in 1985, it was believed that there is a link between CFCs and
the ozone layer. Then the world’s nations signed a document to stop CFCs
productivity by 2006.
The decision of
phasing out CFCs globally is a rational decision but the writer does not think
they are honest to the decision. They could stop the use of CFCs immediately
and use cheaper and harmless chemicals to substitute CFCs. But their decisions
lack implementation. By allowing people to use CFCs for some more times, we are
causing destruction to ourselves. Here the writer relates the science fiction
“War with the Newts” by Karel Capek. Where the newts are exceptionally clever
water animals which could give men pearls. Men gave them knives to keep
themselves safe from sharks. Their number increased so largely that they even
went to the country to live and endangered the existence of human beings. Like
the newts we are destroying our own dwelling and worsening our environment and
air.
Interpretation:
We human being is
considered the supreme creature of all the other many creatures in the world;
we think ourselves wise, witty, clever, intelligent, enthusiastic and
responsible creature. But, we are so sane that we destroy our own home and
ourselves not only other creatures. We think only inheritance of the natural
things here and do whatever thing we like. The essay also implies that human
cannot make rational decisions. Neither general people choose rational
political leaders as their representatives nor do the elected representatives
make right decisions in time. Moreover, they are not honest too. They are only
worrying about the next election but not about the future of people and other
creatures. They know that CFCs are depleting ozone layer but are not doing
anything to stop the use of this harmful chemical. They make decisions but have
no courage and take no initiation of implementation. Thus, we are spoiling
environment by electing such leaders and they are spoiling the future of
mankind.
Critical thinking:
This essay is
mainly focused on environmental degradation and importance of its conservation.
In this essay the writer criticizes the governments, politicians and factory
owners who use harmful chemicals like chloroflurocarbons. She gives emphasis on
its conservation because we are responsible for its destruction. She criticizes
sharply to the leaders and the people who elect such leaders but she does not
think the scientists should also be equally careful about the harmful effects
of the chemical. Not only leaders and scientists all we are equally responsible
for this problem and should be careful for its solution.
Assimilation:
Reading literary
tests is very beneficial. Literature gives not only pleasure or entertainment
but a vast knowledge about different fields. As I read this essay, I got a lot
of information from this essay. I knew about the ozone layer and its
usefulness. I also knew the bad sides of air conditioners and refrigerators.
Before this I was careless of these things; I would not feel anything while
using AC and fridge, but now I feel I am guilty of polluted nature when I use
these appliances. I have seen many people suffering from skin cancer,
respiratory problems and other many diseases. This might have been caused by
the ultra violet rays of the sun and the depleted ozone layer. Now I will try
to convince all my relatives and families about these problems.
http://narayanbashyal75.blogspot.com/ visit
on’t Cut Down The Trees,Brother Woodcutter
Four Levels
of Interaction By Balkrishna Sama For: BBA,BBA-BI,BBA-TT,BCIS
By:Balkrishna Sama(1902-1981)
(Translated by Michael Hutt)
Literal
Comprehension:
The poem “Don’t Cut
Down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter” is composed by Nepali poet Bal Krishna Sama.
The main theme of the poem is about conservation of nature. Specially, the poet
argues that trees are very important in our lives and they need to be
protected. The poet considers the trees as our dead mother who are silent
observers, but they protect us from natural calamities. The poet personifies
the tree. The tree is like our mother that is around us and takes care of us.
When we remember our childhood, we find that most of the time we play around
the tree. It gives us fruits and flowers as if our mother cares us. Thus, no
child is hungry. Their leafy lips kiss us and when they feel tired, they sigh
and weep. They never speak a word. They are able to tolerate and their pains
and grieves are only for our sake. They never complain.
Further, the poet
says that in winter the family sits around the fire burnt from the wood, and
sing and talk. In the winter, the trees are covered with white frost that makes
them bow at us. Nevertheless, we are ignorant. We do not understand all the
scarifies and tolerance that the trees endure to sustain our lives. They
silently and secretly pass the cold nights dreaming of our happy and cheerful
days we spent during our childhoods under their guardianship. They also hear us
singing the songs they had taught us. They bless our laugher all the time. They
always love us. But, they cannot express their inner thoughts to us. It does
not mean that they are lifeless, ignorant and thoughtless. They wait for us
until winter ends. As soon as spring arrives, they again spread out their arms
and appeal us not to cut off their arms.
Interpretation:
In this
pro-environment poem, the poet is trying to be more concerned with the pressing
problems of deforestation and environmental degradation. He repeats the idea of
considering the earth and its plants as respectful and forgiving to us, the
selfish humans who ceaselessly fell down trees for fulfilling their present
needs. The poet is indirectly criticizing the human act of clearing the lands,
thus, making the life of our children and grandchildren insecure. The trees
need to be saved for our future in case the human species may become extinct.
Critical Thinking:
The poem “Don’t Cut
Down the Trees, Brother Woodcutter” has contemporary message to all the
generation. Keeping the environment balance is the upmost property for the
benefit of human beings. Some of the ideas presented in this poem are not
common to cover all sorts of ecological parts.
- For
instance, those who live in hot place do they find frost on the top of the
trees during winter?
- How
could the poet understand the feeling of the tree?
Assimilation:
After reading
this poem, once I felt to think of our dense forest found in Terai belt. There
was “Charkose Jhadi” which was the great economic source of Nepal. Now we do
not find it. if the then government was alerted like the poet Sama even
nowadays we could find that dense forest. Thus, I appeal citizens and the
government to conserve the forest whatever is left for our future generation.
To know a fly
Four
Levels of Interaction By Vincent G.Dethier For: BBA,BBA-BI,BBA-TT,BCIS
Literal Comprehension:
‘To Know A Fly’ is
an essay based on scientific experiment written by Vincent Gaston Dethier.He
was (1915 – 1993) ,an
American psychologist and entomologist.He was a pioneer in the
study of insect-plant interactions.It has presented the view that every
scientific experiment is to be carried out consciously and carefully because
any experiment carried randomly may not give appropriate and acceptable result.
The experiment always begins with act of faith over reality, cause and effect
relationship, discovery by reason, our senses. It continues with an observation
and a question. The scientist in fact alters the condition, observes a result
and draws a conclusion. Therefore a man willing to conduct an experiment needs
to be careful and conscious enough in this concern, since the most commonly
committed scientific sin is the lack of proper experimental control.
The text presents one example of carefully carried out experiment and the next the randomly conducted experiment. Once a gentleman by cutting off flea’s hind legs draws a conclusion that it hears from the hind legs since it couldn’t jump despite his order and he had already tried by amputating other parts of it. Similarly the next man concluded from his experiment that the intoxicating quality lies in glass not in water and even not in other alcoholic substances like bourbon, rum, scotch, rye, and gin and so on since all these substances were mixed with water. This kind of confusing correlation with cause and effect gives rise to fallacy and scientific sin.
Finally, the text presents the extraordinary capacity of fly to test and identify the sweetness in substance. This is the most fruitful experiment conducted through shrewd observation. It extends out its proboscis and tastes the food item to ensure either it is sweet or not. It is too much sensitive. It tastes the food through the proboscis.
The text presents one example of carefully carried out experiment and the next the randomly conducted experiment. Once a gentleman by cutting off flea’s hind legs draws a conclusion that it hears from the hind legs since it couldn’t jump despite his order and he had already tried by amputating other parts of it. Similarly the next man concluded from his experiment that the intoxicating quality lies in glass not in water and even not in other alcoholic substances like bourbon, rum, scotch, rye, and gin and so on since all these substances were mixed with water. This kind of confusing correlation with cause and effect gives rise to fallacy and scientific sin.
Finally, the text presents the extraordinary capacity of fly to test and identify the sweetness in substance. This is the most fruitful experiment conducted through shrewd observation. It extends out its proboscis and tastes the food item to ensure either it is sweet or not. It is too much sensitive. It tastes the food through the proboscis.
Interpretation:
As a piece of
scientific writing, the text is trying to present the importance of experiment
and alerts that one must be careful and conscious to carry out the experiment.
Otherwise, it harms more than it helps. Similarly, presenting an experiment on
fly informs the reader that nature has given every creature with own distinct
qualities. In this, it is useless to regard human as superior creature in the
world.
Critical Thinking:
The text presents
the ideas on scientific experiment and its importance. Naturally, one must be
conscious and careful but in every experiment such excessive consciousness
doesn’t work. Since many scientific discoveries are taking suddenly and in
random experiments. No scientist works being fixed on his invention.Whatever
the discoveries take place, it is sudden and strange.
Assimilation:
As I went through
the story, it really impressed me. I used to think that experiment is just to
get the conclusion and they are easy. Everything is there and to experiment is
to mix the things and observe them carefully. But now I know that to perform experiment
needs a lot of care and knowledge. More than that, after reading it, I came to
know and accept the fact that nature has equally empowered its creatures with
distinct qualities.
King John and the Abbot of Canterbury
Four
levels for-BBA,BBA-BI,BBA-TT,BCIS
Literal
Comprehension:
‘King
John and the Abbot of Canterbury’ is a poetic story(poem that tells story)
written by unknown writer before 1695 so it is called Anonymous poem.The two
central characters and they are King John and the Abbot of Canterbury.The king
is infamous for his wrong deeds whereas Abbot of Canterbury is popular
among people due to his popular deeds and behaviors.Once the king of England
was quite jealous and suspicious of the prosperity of the Abbot of Canterbury.
So he thought that the abbot might make a conspiracy against his throne. The
king decided to get rid of him. So he called the abbot and asked three nonsense
questions on the condition that he would behead him if he failed to answer the
questions within fifteen days. The questions were: What is the exact
price/value of the king with his crown of gold on his head among the noblemen?
How quickly he may ride the whole world about? What does the king think at the
moment? It made him too sad. He tried his best to find the answer by consulting
the professors visiting the university but couldn’t. Finally, his own shepherd
promised him to help him. So one day, in order to answer the questions raised
by the king, the shepherd changed himself as the abbot and went to the palace.
One by one he answered that the value of the king was twenty nine pence less
than the savior, for the second he responded that it takes a whole day if he
rose and ran in the speed of sun that rotates round the earth and for the last,
he responded that the king might be thinking that he was the abbot of
Canterbury but he was wrong because he was a simple shepherd to abbot..
Finally, the disguised shepherd i.e. the abbot exposed all the truths. The
king becomes happy with the shepherd and offers him a place of Abbot in
Canterbury. In return the shepherd rejects king’s proposal saying that he is
not qualified enough to be appointed as an Abbot.
Interpretation:
From the moral point of view, the poem is much impressive.An absolute king, under any threat, can take an immoral, unethical, illogical decision to save his throne.Knowledge does not just belong to scholars, and high ranked religious people. Source of knowledge is everywhere and it comes through experience as well.Even an uneducated person sometimes can solve riddles that are unsolved by scholars.Through the poem, the poet proves that the bookish and formal education is not so much effective and useful to solve the practical problems. On the one hand, it has a great lesson that people and their knowledge shouldn’t be judged on the ground of their profession and appearance. Thus the text has taught a great lesson that makes it clear that much is learnt through their daily life activities than from the universities. So the so called ignorant ones in terms of getting formal education aren’t to be ignored and devaluated.
From the moral point of view, the poem is much impressive.An absolute king, under any threat, can take an immoral, unethical, illogical decision to save his throne.Knowledge does not just belong to scholars, and high ranked religious people. Source of knowledge is everywhere and it comes through experience as well.Even an uneducated person sometimes can solve riddles that are unsolved by scholars.Through the poem, the poet proves that the bookish and formal education is not so much effective and useful to solve the practical problems. On the one hand, it has a great lesson that people and their knowledge shouldn’t be judged on the ground of their profession and appearance. Thus the text has taught a great lesson that makes it clear that much is learnt through their daily life activities than from the universities. So the so called ignorant ones in terms of getting formal education aren’t to be ignored and devaluated.
Critical
Thinking:
The
poem seems to be much humorous and satirical. So far it imparts the idea of
human knowledge and wisdom, it is appropriate but in whatever way the King
Abbot and the Shepherd are presented, they don’t seem believable and
convincing. Since the king fails to recognize the shepherd changed as abbot.
Similarly, the shepherd is presented in such a way that doesn’t fit him to be
more than that it mocks the formal education. It is too difficult to accept it.
- Can a king ask such nonsense
question to a reputed Abbot?
- Don’t you think Shepherd’s answers
are controversial?
- How can the king leave the person
so easily who betrayed him?
Assimilation:
Reading
this poem, I am too much impressed with the fact that only the formal education
doesn’t make people capable, rather they may learn many things from the
practical experiences too. Having seen in my village, I come to know that many
old people are capable of doing various things which other educated men don’t
know. So people can learn many things from their practical knowledge and
experience.
Third Thoughts
Literal
Comprehension:
This
story “Third Thoughts” is written by E.V Lucas. The narrator’s friend was
not a successful businessman. Once the writer’s friend while visiting New
York bought a painting thinking that it was by Turner. He got it at cheap price
since the seller was also confused about its originality. With the painting he
went to London and sold it at fifty pounds. He was so much happy that he
decided to share the profit with seller of New York. At first, he decided to
share fifty percent of his profit and wrote a letter but having no stamp, he
went to his room. Again at about 3 AM, he thought it quite inappropriate to share
the profit but still thought of sending ten pounds only. His thinking kept on
changing and couldn’t sleep well. Again. he thought of sending five pounds
thinking that if he shared, the Goddess would be angry and he thought it was he
who knew the value of the painting. If he had known it, he wouldn’t have given
him at such cheap rate, so it is wrong to send him the profit. Finally, he
decided to send only a pound.Early in the morning, he went out side and spent
all his money in gambling. Finally, he concluded that buying and selling are
straight forward matter. Everyone in this matter tries to get benefit. The
buyer once paying to the goods has no obligation to the dealer.
Interpretation:
The
story presenting the constant changing nature of human mind seems to be full of
humor and satire. Basically thinking with the nature of businessman’s mind it
proves that human mind can never be rigid and fixed. Especially in business
their mind keeps on changing. At another level, it sheds light on human earning
since the earning as that of writer’s friend has no meaning at all in life. The
most important thing in the story is that in business buying and selling are
straight forward dealings. It has nothing to do with human consideration,
sympathy and faith. Once goods are sold or bought they have nothing to do with
them since then.
Critical
Thinking:
The
story offers a great deal of humor and satire. But in many respects, it doesn’t
seem appropriate and convincing.
-
Does anyone want to share his profit? Isn’t the idea of
sharing profit with the dealer humors?
-
Does any seller sell his good without knowing it?
-
Does a customer get Turner’s painting in such low
price?
-
How can we say that there is no value of feelings and
emotions while doing business?
Assimilation:
As I
went through the story, it reminded me of my own events that I experienced
earlier. Once I had been to my village after a long time from the city. I had
taken a beautiful watch there. Everyone liked it, one of my friends promised to
pay Rs 500 for it ,so I gave it to him. I got Rs 300 as profit, and so I got
extremely happy.
our Levels of “Who
Was to Blame ?”
Anton Chekhov (1860 – 1904)
Literal Comprehension:
This story is an incomplete list of stories sketched by ‘Anton Checkov.’ This story deals with a mental person humors. In the story the narrator compares his life with a little kitten. The writer of the story has made his uncle and little kitten as the main character and Parsakova, the maid as a female character. The story begins with training the kitten to kill the rats as they used to disturb the uncle sometimes by nibbling the top of hat and sometimes by nibbling the corner of the grammar book. In course of training, the kitten was unable to catch the mice as it was difficult for it to match with the speed of little mice. The kitten was under strict environment of rules and regulation of narrator uncles. Being several times failed in the uncle test and experiment, the uncle threw the little kitten away. Years passed, the thin frail kitten had turned into a solid and sagacious tom cat. On the way to his house, one day he saw the same cat which was still fail in its mission which made uncle realize his wastage of his precious time that he spent on training it. So does the narrator in the story never learn the Latin English grammar as it was beyond his interest.
This story is an incomplete list of stories sketched by ‘Anton Checkov.’ This story deals with a mental person humors. In the story the narrator compares his life with a little kitten. The writer of the story has made his uncle and little kitten as the main character and Parsakova, the maid as a female character. The story begins with training the kitten to kill the rats as they used to disturb the uncle sometimes by nibbling the top of hat and sometimes by nibbling the corner of the grammar book. In course of training, the kitten was unable to catch the mice as it was difficult for it to match with the speed of little mice. The kitten was under strict environment of rules and regulation of narrator uncles. Being several times failed in the uncle test and experiment, the uncle threw the little kitten away. Years passed, the thin frail kitten had turned into a solid and sagacious tom cat. On the way to his house, one day he saw the same cat which was still fail in its mission which made uncle realize his wastage of his precious time that he spent on training it. So does the narrator in the story never learn the Latin English grammar as it was beyond his interest.
Interpretation :
The central idea of the story is that a creature cannot be trained forcefully. It is against their will to learn. To learn anything, a person must have keen interest and early eagerness. In course of time, it automatically get adjusted with the environment and be practical to their duties and responsibility. No creature can adjust in a strict environment as in the story too the little kitten was forced to catch the mice, which was beyond its mental and physical ability. So, as the narrator in the story also couldn’t learn the Latin grammar as it was beyond his interest.
The central idea of the story is that a creature cannot be trained forcefully. It is against their will to learn. To learn anything, a person must have keen interest and early eagerness. In course of time, it automatically get adjusted with the environment and be practical to their duties and responsibility. No creature can adjust in a strict environment as in the story too the little kitten was forced to catch the mice, which was beyond its mental and physical ability. So, as the narrator in the story also couldn’t learn the Latin grammar as it was beyond his interest.
Critical thinking:
This story reveals the fact that no one can be trained forcefully. It is a good and a knowledgeable story but I am unsatisfied with some parts of it. Do any cars runs away when they see a rat in reality? Is keeping a cat only the way to get rid of rat? How can a teacher not understand the feeling of cat? It is possible to raise such question for the reader like me.
This story reveals the fact that no one can be trained forcefully. It is a good and a knowledgeable story but I am unsatisfied with some parts of it. Do any cars runs away when they see a rat in reality? Is keeping a cat only the way to get rid of rat? How can a teacher not understand the feeling of cat? It is possible to raise such question for the reader like me.
Assimilation :
Before reading this story I used to think that a person can be trained with good skills, physically and mentally. But after reading this story I came to know that nobody can go beyond one’s interest. There are so many such things that creature adopt themselves in the change of time from the nature. Such things are not to be taught by anyone.
Before reading this story I used to think that a person can be trained with good skills, physically and mentally. But after reading this story I came to know that nobody can go beyond one’s interest. There are so many such things that creature adopt themselves in the change of time from the nature. Such things are not to be taught by anyone.
The Clock Tower
Literal
Comprehension:
The
speaker in this poem describes the conduction of an old pensioner. The poem has
compared the old pensioned senior vet with clock tower, Ghantaghar. He is
old, rejected and has distributed all his things to his relatives. All his
military equipments are gone. The old pensioner has jealously too; so, he has
kept two souvenirs of his army life. They are an old-modeled, large, round
pocket watch and the ancient hat. The clock tower is like a pensioned senior
vet who is passing t=long and sand days of the old age. It has a clock on its
neck and a cap like the old vet on its head. It is standing forever on the bank
of Ghantaghar and it is brooding.
Interpretation:
The
loneliness of the old man is powerfully presented through the image of the
clock tower symbolically. Like the clock tower which is old, neglected and
waiting its end day, the old man has also the same fate- old, rejected and
dejected. The poem has revealed the bitter reality of the old age. Ranipokhari
was built by the king Pratap Malla in 1727 BS in the memory of his son. It was
a token of consolation to his wife. Thus, by looking at the lake the old man
remembers his past and is mollifying (lessening) his suffering.
Critical
Thinking:
Time is
most power full thing. It turns a handsome man to an old and ugly person who
has nothing except memories. We all are victims of the time. The poem aptly
points out the power of time. The vet is sitting under the tower, time, which
itself is the curse of for human being. The poem has used the power of imagery
in a powerful way. Without stating the history of Ranipokhari it invites
readers to know why the old man is looking at the Ranipokhari, queen’s lake.
- Why does the poet compare an in
animate object like a clock tower with a living human being?
- Why does he say that the clock
tower is brooding? It is unhappy. How does he know?
Assimilation:
The
poet seems to be very unhappy with our neglect towards tradition, historical
monuments.In our life as well, when we grow older, nobody talks to us. We want
to share our experiences, but nobody would have time to listen us. Thus we
lament and curse time because it is time that changes us to an old and ugly
things. We have to wait silently to death. We cannot stop the passage of time,
time is powerful than us. We have nothing except lamenting on the bygone days.
I met an old man in Pasupati area. He reported all his grief within five
minutes to an unknown like me.
visite fore more note
No comments:
Post a Comment