Tuesday, August 11, 2020

THE STAR AND THE LILY - (Exercise)

Word Meaning:

1.       chieftain - village chief

2.       begged - requested

3.       beasts - wild animals

4.       tame - to bring under control

5.       bush - wood

6.       carpeted - covered, buried

7.       plumage - feather covering a bird's body

8.       inhabitants - people living

9.       wilderness - forest

10.     amusements - entertainment

11.     wigwam - a cone-shaped tent

12.     in want - in need

13.     yielded - to produce food

14.     beneath - below

15.     residences - people's dwelling place

16.     location - place, area

17.     phenomenon - fact, event, happening

18.     disaster - damage

19.     omen - sign, warning

20.     mystery - unsolved

21.     maiden - lady

22.     forefathers - people lived long years ago

23.     blazing - shining

24.     concluded - came to conclusion, ended

25.     braves - courageous, not afraid

26.     herbs - medicine available from plants

27.     rejoiced - enjoyed

28.     buried - covered

29.     gliding - slip, sliding

30.     canoe - tiny boat

31.     deputed - appointed

32.     ascertain - find out

33.     precursor - a person or thing that goes and indicates the coming of something

34.     yonder - over there, far away

35.     assume - take on

36.     crier - person making announcement

37.     prairie - wide and flat green areas without trees

38.     slumber - sleep

39.     alighted - landed

40.     brethren - brothers

 

A. Choose the right options to complete these sentences.

1. A large group of Indian children came to the chieftain and asked him

a. to tell them a story.
b. to go hunting with them.

c. to play with them.

a. to tell them a story.

 

2. The Indians thought that the stars

a. brought disaster to their land.

b. were the homes of lost children.

c. were places where good souls lived.

c. were places where good souls lived.

 

3. The Indians saw a star that

a. was shining in the North.

b. was shining very brightly in the South.

c. was moving fast through the skies.

b. was shining very brightly in the South.

 

B. Answer these questions.

1. Briefly describe how life was in the times of the early Indians.

The early Indians were the lone inhabitants of the American wilderness. They played in the open field. At night they met on the wide green beneath the heavenly worlds, the ah-nung-o-kah and watched the stars the residence of good people in heaven.

 

2. Where and why were a number of warriors sent? What did they find?

The warriors were sent in the South because one night they had seen a star arrived over there shining brighter than the other stars.

The found it appeared strange and somewhat like a bird.

 

3. What did a young warrior see in his dream?

The young warrior saw in his dream a beautiful maiden to his side in search of a place where she could dwell among people and be loved. She also said that she had lift her sisters in order to see the happy race continually.

 

4. Where did the star finally settle down and why?

The star finally settled down by the side of cool lakes because from there it can see the gliding canoe, can make the children its playmates and it can kiss their slumber.

 

C. Read these sentences from the text and answer the questions that follow.

1. They feared that it might be the omen of some disaster. Some thought it a precursor of good, others of evil.

a. Who are 'they'?

They are the committee of wise men.

b. What is 'it'? Why are they trying to find out what it is?

It is the star that shone brightly.

They are trying to find out the meaning of the strange phenomenon.

c. Why are their opinions divided about the nature of the object?

Their opinion divided because they feared that it might be the omen of some disaster. Some thought it a precursor of good while others thought a sign of evil.

 

2. "Young brave! ask your wise men where I can live and see the happy race continually; ask them what form I shall assume in order to be loved."

a. Who is the 'young brave'?

The warrior who had the dream is referred to as a young brave.

b. Why does the beautiful star want to live on earth?

She wants to live on earth because she is charmed with the land of his forefathers, its flowers, its birds, its lakes and its mountain clothed with green.

c. What message do these lines have for mankind today?

The message for mankind is that we are blessed with such a wonderful nature, therefore we must always protect it all the time and take care of it. we must continually love the land of our forefathers, its flowers, its lakes its mountain, etc.


D. Think and answer.

1. Why do you think the star wanted to leave its own world and live on the earth?

The earth is the land of its forefather and she is charmed with the land of his forefathers, its flowers, its birds, its lakes and its mountain clothed with green. Thus it leaves its own world and comes to live on the earth.

 

2. Why do you think the star loved children the most and wanted to be their playmate?

The star loved the children the most because they are always innocent, honest, and simple. They find happiness in the small things and the wanted to take part in those small things.

 

E. Discuss in the class.

1. The stars are tiny dots of light in the vast darkness of the skies. What can we learn from the stars?

The stars although tiny dotes of light in the vast darkness, they are very essential in our life. Very often they are the source of peacefulness and smile on our faces. Their presence helps us to find directions; their presence gives us bed time stories. Thus we can learn to be grateful for their presence. 

 

2. "Be honest, be nice; be a flower, not a weed" - Aaron Neville. What kind of thoughts does this line bring to your mind?

These are all good qualities and make any community better. Everyone wants such a person with those attributes. Where as weed is something unwanted and prevents smooth growth and development of anything around it. Therefore let us be honest, nice; be like a flower so that everyone is attracted to us, because we are good.

 

3. Instead of amusement in close rooms, the sport of the field was theirs. Discuss this statement from the story. What do you think is better - playing in the room or in the field? Why?

Life is healthy in an open atmosphere. Physical, mental and emotional fitness is easily obtainable when we play outside, run and jump in the open space. The company of one another is another advantage to keep the community active and united. On the other hand, games, entertainment and amusements in close room lack all the adventures and fun of the open ground. It also tends to make us narrow-minded.

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