Wednesday, October 21, 2020

THE LAKE THAT FLEW AWAY (EXERCISE)




WORD MEANING

1.           untended – neglected

2.           crumble – break into pieces

3.           flourished – developed, prospered

4.           dense – thick

5.           sprawled – sit casually

6.           dangling – casually going around

7.           nettles – rough surface of a leaf

8.           jingle – noise

9.           seethed – became angry

10.      bubbles – ball or liquid that floats

11.      weed – wild plant

12.      parting – leaving

13.      grabbing – foul paly

14.      stumbled – fell

15.      cumulus – cloud

16.      ceiling – top surface

17.      bobbed – moved

18.      bellowed – shout angrily

19.      plunged – jumped

20.      wriggling – moving around

21.      hinges – corners

22.      dappled – marked

23.      trout – fish

24.      stranded – stuck

25.      slug – a kind of leeches

26.      shrank – become smaller

27.      razed – destroy

28.      stumps – break into pieces

29.      trudged – walk slowly

30.      crater – a big hole in the ground

31.      parched – dry and hot

32.      cracked – break

33.      destitute – helpless

34.      meagre – little

35.      swooped – fly suddenly

36.      sluicing – pouring of water

37.      hoes – tool to dig ground

38.      spades – tool to dig ground

39.      barrows – cart

40.      ripple – wave of water

41.      trinket – ornament

42.      shallows – not deep


A. Choose the right option to complete these sentences.

1. The story is about Lake Eim which is situated in

a. Lithuania.

b. Estonia.

c. Finland.

d. Norway.

Ans. b. Estonia

 

2. The Lake Eim was

a. very deep and surrounded by dense trees.

b. quite shallow and surrounded by dense trees.

c. very deep with few trees on its banks.

d. very deep surrounded by high mountains.

Ans. a. Very deep and surrounded by dense trees.


3. The people lived near the banks of the lake initially were

a. hardworking villagers.

b. clever fishermen.

c. lazy and brutal brigands and bandits.

d. commercial farmers.

Ans. a. Lazy and brutal brigands and bandits.


4. The lake decided to leave the land because

a. it was shamed by the blood of the slain.

b. it began to dry up.

c. it wished to roam the world.

d. it found the sun to be too harsh.

Ans. a. It was shamed by the blood of the slain.


5. When the men opened the treasure chests they were surprised because the chests

a. were full of gold ornaments, pearls and doubloons.

b. were teeming with lizards, newts, frogs, salamanders and water snakes.

c. were packed with trout, bearded barbell and salmons.

d. were packed with clay and sand.

Ans. a. were teeming with lizards, newts, frogs, salamanders and water snakes.


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

1. And soon, within the darkness of trees lurked a darkness of men.

a. What does ‘darkness of trees’ refer to?

‘Darkness of trees’ means the growth of dense forest.

b. What does ‘darkness of men’ refer to?

‘Darkness of men’, indicates the evil nature of human being.

c. Explain the significance of this line in the text.

The line stated above indicates the growth of evil intention of men such as robbery and killing; as the density of the forest grew. Such people found it easy to hide themselves in the dense forest.


2. That would have been hard work and they had forsworn hard work.

a. Who are ‘they’?

They were brigands and bandits.

b. What did they do to satisfy their needs and wants?

They fished the lake for their supper, spent long hours sprawled in drifting boats, dangling grappling hooks into the deeps.

c. What light does this throw on their character?

They were easy going lazy people.


C. Think and answer.

1. What indications has the author given that the brigands had a ‘brisk trade’ and were thriving?

‘Brisk trade’ suggests a business that makes quick profit. In this context brigands’ brisk trade were thriving, they made quick profit. But it was not made by any hard work or ethical principle. The brigands were able to do so by killing and looting the pilgrims or merchants who were passing by.


2. How can we infer that as a result of the ‘brisk trade’, several lives were put to an untimely and gory end? Quote phrases from the text to support your answer.

We have reference from the text that these people “had forsworn hard work”. “So how did their pockets jingle with gold and their gambling last all night?” We also find answer for this. “Each time a traveller passed through wood – a pilgrim or a merchant – they cut his throat and threw his body in the deep dark waters.”


3. What difference in attitude towards the lake do you find between the brigands and the villagers? What can you conclude from that difference?

The brigands and the villagers’ view towards the lake were contradictory. The brigands left the forest unattended while the villagers, the peasants planted willow trees along the lake. The brigands stained the lake with human blood showing no concern or respect for the lake while the villagers thanked the lake with flowers they floated on its face. In short the brigands showed no care and love, which the villagers did.

 

4. Do you think a lake has feelings? If yes, what feelings would you ascribe to it, and why?

Yes, I think everything that exists has feeling. The feelings of the lake would be something like who entertains and is generous to sustain everything around it. It entertains everyone; as no one feels bored or fed up in and around a lake. Everyone just look for an opportunity to visit this place and spend time there. The life around is so rich that people also make their livelihood in various ways such as catching and selling fish, herbs, tourism etc. Therefore, as it has feeling and could connect and builds life around it.

D. Discuss in class.

If you don’t want your bed full of newts. Comment on the ending of the legend.

This statement has a simple meaning, that comes with a condition, ‘if’, which connects us with the previous line that reads, ‘which is as it should be; care for each other’. Everything that exists, is mutually dependent. If we want our room free from dirt, we need to clean i.e. to take care of it. Likewise, if we want our surrounding free from germs and waste, we need to look our surrounding. This is so simple that if we want nature to take care of us; we must also take care of the nature.

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