Compulsory English Grade 12 || Language Development || Unit 8, Human Culture || Land of Plenty || NEB

 

 

Compulsory English

Grade 12

Language Development

 

UNIT-8, HUMAN CULTURE

 

Land of Plenty

Exercises

Working with words:

A. Complete the given sentences with the suitable words from the box.

wrapped, embarrassment, abundance, ordinary, teetering, outskirts, dragging

 

a. The annual report has caused acute embarrassment to the government.

b. Ellen has worn high-heels. She is teetering.

c. Look! The poor horse is dragging a heavy load. 

d. As they approached the outskirts of the city, Ella's mood visibly lightened.

e. The parcel was wrapped in plain brown paper. It still looks attractive.

f. Fruits and vegetables grow in abundance in the Terai region.

g. They can abstract precious medicines from ordinary substances.

 

B. Word formation is a process in which new words are formed from base or root words by adding prefixes or suffixes. A root word can be a verb, noun, adjective or an adverb. See the following examples.

 

Root word                      Suffix                              New Word

govern (v.)                           -ment                                   government (n.)

perfect (adj.)                       -ion                                        perfection (n.)

service (v.)                           -able                                      serviceable (adj.)

beauty (n.)                           -full                                        beautiful (adj.)

warm (adj.)                         -ly                                           warmly (adv.)

 

C. Add suitable suffix to the root words given and write the parts of speech of each newly formed word.

 

Root Word	Suffix	New word
neighbour	neighbour + hood	neighbourhood (n.)
comfort	comfort + able	comfortable (adj.)
shop	shop + er	shopper (n.)
husk	husk+ y	husky (n.)
squeamish	squeamish + ness	squeamishness (n.)
change	change + able	changeable (adj.)
shine	shine+y	shiny (adj.)
colloquial	colloquial+ly	colloquially (adv.)
collect	collect+ion	collection (n.)
embarrass	embarrass+ment	embarashment (n.)
persuade	persuade+able	persuadable (adj.)
type	type+ical	typical (adj.)
differ	Differ	Suitable suffix is not found in the list
ship	ship+able	shippable (adj.)
tropic	tropic+ical	tropical (adj.)
drive	drive+er	driver (n)
reside	Reside	Suitable suffix is not found in the list
brother	brother+hood	brotherhood (n.)
fresh	fresh+ness	freshness (n.)

 

D. Look for the following words related to waste management in an English dictionary. Make sentences of your own using them.

Sewage: The city needs a new sewage disposal system.

Sludge: The dumping of sewage sludge at sea was banned in 2020.

Organic waste: Decomposition of organic waste is a major source of methane.

Inorganic waste: Inorganic waste doesn't contain organic compounds.

Methane: Methane is a colorless and odorless gas found naturally on Earth.

Waste reduction:  Waste reduction is the best way to preserve environment.

Monofil: I don’t know what is the use of monofil.

Market waste: Management of market waste is a big problem in some cities in Nepal.

Incineration: Incineration is a common technique for treating waste.

Hazardous waste: Scientific labs produce hazardour waste.

 

Comprehension:

Answer and following questions.

a. How does the author describe the Japanese waste management system?

Ans:- The author describes the waste management system in Japan in a sarcastic and funny way.

 

b. What are the two reasons behind the existence of Sodaigomi in Japanese culture?

Ans:- The two reasons behind the existence of Sodaigomi in Japanese culture are:

i. The small size of the typical Japanese house lacking attic, cellar, garage and spare room and,

ii. Their desire for freshness and purity and they don't like to use second-hand things no matter how good and new they are.

 

c. What, according to the author, do the Japanese culture concerning the used items?

Ans:- Japanese people seem to feel about buying used things as the author feels about buying someone else's socks. They feel embarrassed to purchase things in recycle shops as it is similar to buy at a Frederick's Hollywood shop.

 

d. How is Malaysian culture different from Japanese culture concerning the used items?

Ans:- It is totally different from Japanese culture in terms of using second hand goods. Malaysians don't like to throw anything away. These people are even enthusiastic to buy things sold in auctions and second-hand shops. But Japanese throw even clean and new looking merchandise on the street at sodiagomi.

 

e. Why did the author feel awkward at the sodaigomi pile?

Ans:- The author felt awkward at the sodigomi pile because he was confused and timid to grab anything from the pile just then.

 

f. How many articles did the author bring to his house one after another?

Ans:- The author brought a table, a lawn chair, a shiny new bell, a wooden cupboard, a set of wrenches and screwdrivers in a metal box, a barstool, a tray, a black and white TV, and a color TV to his house one after another.

 

g. Why do most people try to find things in trash pile 'in the dead of the night'?

Ans:- Most people try to find things in trash pile 'in the death of the night' because everyone can pretend not to notice who are skimming things at the sodaigomi and people overcome shame while picking up things in pile at that time.

 

h. How did the author's family assimilate Japanese culture in using consumer goods?

Ans:- Most of the people in Japan don’t use consumer goods. They throw away their used items at sodaigami piles because of the lack of storage. They observe the items on day and in the dead of night they replace their items from the sodaigami. The author also did so. He didn’t grab any item from the nearby pile on day time. When there is no one to notice at the midnight, he skims the pile and takes the items to his room and put backs the items if they are nolonger useable. He filled his rooms bringing items such as chair, table, tray etc. needed for his family from the piles. In this way he assimilated Japanese culture in using consumers goods.

 

Critical Thinking

a. If you happen to be in Japan someday, will you collect articles from sodaigomi? Why or why not?

Ans: - After reading this article I am very much clear about waste management in Japan. Sodiagomi piles seem amazing in Japan. Sodiagomi piles are part of recycling where we throw used items in days and receive thrown goods at night secretly. Publicly it is shameful to use second-hand goods. The selection of items at the piles happens in the dead of night. If I happen to be in Japan someday, I will collect articles from sodiagomi. Japanese prefer to use a new and fresh one and they throw away used items even they are new. People like me, who migrate to Japan for study or work face difficulty in managing money. To spend money on different items unnecessarily, it is better to skim the sodaigomi pile secretly at night. Most of the people do the same. Though it is a shameful act if someone notices, it saves our money and fulfils our needs. 

 

b. There are some second-hand shops in Nepal, too. But people are not much interested in them. What practice would be suitable in managing second-hand items in Nepal?

Ans:- Second-hand shops are those in which used items, which are not too old to use, are sold. Most of the people in Nepal are middle class and poor and it is difficult to buy everything fresh and new. It is human desire to use expensive and good quality goods but all people can’t afford them. To spend a huge amount of money on costly things means curtailing expenditure on daily used items. So, some people prefer to buy goods in second-hand shops however it is unusual. There are various reasons behind our disinterest in buying second-hand goods. The people who sell second-hand goods at shops are not faithful. They lie in the durability and effectiveness of second-hand goods. People want to show off even if they don’t have lots of money in terms of buying goods. If other people know we are buying second-hand goods, they insult us. Even we don’t feel proud to buy used items. Even some government offices let used items be rusted instead of selling at a moderate price. Buying such goods takes a lengthy process. We can manage used items by repairing and polishing but our culture is using fresh items like Japanese people. We must develop our habit of buying second-hand goods if they are in good condition. Buying all sorts of used items is not good, but we can buy used items such as good conditioned furniture, electric types of equipment and vehicles. Rich people can afford expensive items and after short term use, they exchange those items. If such items are good enough to use, we must develop our habit to buy them. We must not feel humiliated in using such items. 

 

Writing

a. Write a paragraph elaborating the idea of 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) in garbage management.

Ans:- The increased pollution is depleting our environment these days. The wastes created by humans are polluting our environment causing different hazardous effects both to humans and animals. These are the main causes of different diseases. The idea of 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) in garbage management is the best idea to reduce environmental pollution. Reduce means reducing the number of wastes we produce daily. We must be conscious of producing wastes. If it is possible, we have to reuse them. Items such as plastic bottles, bags, items made of metals must be reused instead of littering on the earth. If such things are too bad to use, we have to sell them to recycling factories. This kind of behaviour leads to sustainable development and a better environment. Lesser pollution, better health index of the country results in healthier people. 3Rs is the most effective way to reduce environmental depletion due to toxic waste being emitted in large numbers. The result of less waste is positive for the environment, human health and the economy.