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Part I ENGLISH Paper I NOTES

LESSON
AUTHOR

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THINKING OUT OF THE BOX :LATERAL THINKING

EDWARD DE BONO

Paragraph Answer Questions :

1.
Most complex problems do have a solution ..with a solution for her problem.
2.
Lateral thinking is creative thinking or non-linear thinking. Provide instances from the essay to
support this statement.
3.
Explain the difference between Lateral and Logical thinking.
Introduction for paragraph answer questions :
Thinking Out of the Box : Lateral Thinking is an essay adapted from an article on the
internet. It is about the importance of lateral thinking in solving problems. It also explains
the Six thinking has technique of Edward de Bono. Edward de Bono popularized the concept
of lateral thinking.
Annotations :
1.
It is thinking differently or doing something different; doing something that might be quite novel
and unconventional in nature.
2.
In most real life situations, the pieces are not given, we just assume they are there. We assume
certain perceptions, concepts and boundaries.
Introduction

These lines are taken from the lesson Thinking out of the Box: Lateral
Thinking.
It is an essay adapted from an article on the internet about Lateral
Thinking. Edward de Bono, popularized the concept of lateral thinking.

Context

These lines tell us about the importance of lateral thinking in solving problems. It
explains the difference between lateral thinking and logical thinking.

Explanation

Lateral thinking is different from logical thinking. It is creative thinking. It is

thinking differently or doing things in a different way. It is done in the most
unconventional manner. Lateral thinking is very helpful in solving even the most
difficult problems in life. The story of the moneylender and the girl is an example.
But logical thinking is like playing a game of chess. In the game of chess we follow a
set procedure. There is nothing novel or new in this kind of thinking or doing things.

Paragraph Answer Questions :

4.

Explain the use of Six thinking hats technique in group discussions.

Annotations :
3.
4.

When a person puts on a hat he or she plays the role that belongs to that hat. This makes it a game
where individuals are encouraged to contribute all kinds of ideas under diverse hats.
With the six hats, instead of confrontation there is supportive scrutiny of an issue, which is useful
where there are fierce arguments, bickering or obstinacy.

Introduction

These lines are taken from the lesson Thinking out of the Box: Lateral
Thinking. It is an essay adapted from an article on the internet about Lateral
Thinking. Edward de Bono, popularized the concept of lateral thinking.

Context

These lines tell us about the importance of Six thinking hats technique of Edward de
Bono.

Explanation

LESSON
AUTHOR

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Six thinking hats technique is a great gift to the world by Edward de Bono. According
to de Bono, each of the hats stands for a particular style of thinking. At times we may
have to think differently in a given situation. We should be able to change hats
according to the need. This technique is very helpful in group discussions says the
author. The members wear different hats. They come up with different ideas and
suggestions. This technique broadens their outlook. It helps settle the issue in a
friendly manner.
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GENDER BIAS
SUDHA MURTHY

Introduction for Paragraph Questions :

SUDHA MURTHY is a renowned author and social worker. She is the Chairperson of Infosys Ltd. The
present essay Gender Bias is written by her. In this essay, she tells us how she
fought against gender discrimination and got her first job in Telco Ltd. (TATA
Motors).
Annotations :
Introduction

The lines are taken from the lesson Gender Bias by Sudha Murthy. Sudha
Murthy is the Chairperson of Infosys Foundation. She is a well-known
writer and social worker. She was awarded the Padmashree in 2006.

Context

These lines tell us about how Sudha Murthy fought against gender
discrimination and later got a job in Telco.

Explanation

Sudha Murthy was in her final year M.Sc. at IISC, Bangalore. Life was full of
joy and fun. She never faced any injustice or discrimination. She was
planning to go abroad to do a Ph.D. So she was not keen on taking up a job in
India. One day she saw an advertisement for a job in Telco. The
advertisement clearly stated that ladies were not eligible to apply.
Sudha Murthy was shocked. She could not believe the great TATAs showing
discrimination against women. She wanted to protest against this injustice.
She wrote a letter to JRD Tata expressing her unhappiness. Surprisingly, she
was called for an interview. She didnt feel nervousness during the interview.
She thought that they wouldnt select her and hence was cool. She said that
they should start employing women too. She became the first woman
engineer to work on the shop-floor. Later she met JRD Tata. Tata felt very
happy that women were getting into engineering in India.

LESSON
AUTHOR

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THE ART OF WICKET KEEPIG : THE UTTAKH-BAITAK BREED

RAMACHANDRA GUHA

Introduction for Paragraph Answer Questions:

RAMACHANDRA GUHA is a famous cricket journalist. The Art of Wicket-Keeping : UttakhBhaitak Breed praises the virtues of wicket keepers.
Annotations :
Introduction

Context

These lines are taken from the lesson The Art of Wicket-Keeping : UttakahBhaitak Breed written by Ramachandra Guha. Ramachandra Guha is a
famous cricket journalist.
These lines tell us about the difficulties involved in keeping wickets. They also
describe the qualities a wicket-keeper should have.

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Explanation

LESSON
AUTHOR

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According to the author, wicket-keeping is more difficult than batting, bowling

and fielding. A wicket-keeper should have certain additional physical and mental
qualities than those of a batsman, a bowler and a fielder. He should be agile, alert
and fearless. His eyesight should be 20/20. He should have the concentration of
a heart-surgeon, the spontaneity of a fighter pilot and the courage of a boxer in
the rink. To be the Prime Minister of a coalition government may be easy. But to
be the wicket-keeper of India is very difficult. Sometimes, he may also have to
bat if the situation demands.

ROBOTS AND PEOPLE

ISAAC ASIMOV

Paragraph Questions :
1.
Are robots a boon or a bane for mankind? Justify your answer.
2.
The invention of robots will not lead to the loss of jobs. How does the writer explain this?
3.
How does human intelligence differ from robotic or computer intelligence?
4.
Robots and computer intelligence can complement human intelligence comment.
Introduction

Explanation :

ISAAC ISIMOV was a prolific science fiction writer.

The present essay
Robots and People is written by him. In this essay he discusses the kinds of
jobs Robots and People can do respectively. He tells us about the advantages of
using computers and robots.
Any invention is a boon when it is used properly. This is true even in the case of
robots. Robots, though smart, are just machines. Man is creative and intelligent.
Man should use robots to do dull and simple jobs. He should use his marvelous
brain and time to do better things. Of course with the use of robots many jobs
will be lost. But thousands of jobs get created. The jobs that are created will be
interesting ones (that will help man stretch his mind). As a result future
computers and robs too will acquire more abilities. In the end, there will be two
different kinds of intelligence on earth human and robotic intelligence both
working together to create wonders.

Annotations :
1.
2.
3.
4.

If muscles arent used, they get flabby, and thats true of the brain too.
There will be many times as many jobs coming into being as are destroyed.
If we are going to have a large changeover in types of jobs, there will have to be a careful
programming of retraining and reeducation for people with old-style-jobs.
In this way, we may end up with two kinds of intelligence on earth, two entirely different kinds.

Introduction:

These lines are taken from the essay Robots and People written by Isaac
Asimov. Isaac Asimov is a famous science fiction writer.

Context

These lines explain the advantages of using robots and computers. They tell us how
robotic intelligence is different from human intelligence.

Explanation :

Any invention is a boon when it is used properly. This is true even in the case of
robots. Robots, though smart, are just machines. Man is creative and intelligent.
Man should use them to do dull and simple jobs. He should use his marvelous brain
and time to do better things. Of course with the use of robots many jobs will be lost.
But thousands of jobs get created. The jobs that are created will be interesting ones
(that will help man stretch his mind). As a result future computers and robs too will

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acquire more abilities. Eventually, there will be two different kinds of intelligence on
earth human and robotic intelligence both working together to create wonders.
POEM
POET

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ON FRIENDSHIP
KAHLIL GIBRAN

Paragraph Answer Questions :

Introduction :

Kahlil Gibran is a famous Lebanese American writer and artist. He became

famous with his book The Prophet, a collection of philosophical poems. In this
simple touching poem On Friendship, he extols the virtues and advantages of
having friends.

Explanation :

A friend is a gift of God. God answers our needs through a friend. Idiomatically put,
a true friend is ones board and bed. To have a good friend is to have a treasure
trove. A friend gives us food when we go to him hungry. He gives us peace in times
of trouble. He does not fear to say no or yes to us. Friends understand each
others feelings, desires and wishes without expressing them in words.
Just like the mountain appears better to the climber from the plane, a friends true
virtues are understood well only in his absence. Friendship is sharing of selfless love
and pleasure. The poet advises us to seek for a friend in whose company you feel the
freshness of the morning dew.

Annotations

Introduction

These lines are taken from the poem On Friendship written by Kahlil Gibran.
He became famous with his book The Prophet, a collection of philosophical
poems.

Context

Describing the qualities of a true friend and the advantages of having good friends,
the poet has written these wonderful lines.

Explanation

A friend is a gift of God. God answers our needs through a friend. Idiomatically put,
a true friend is ones board and bed. To have a good friend is to have a treasure
trove. A friend gives us food when we go to him hungry. He gives us peace in times
of trouble. He does not fear to say no or yes to us. Friends understand each
others feelings, desires and wishes without expressing them in words.
Just like the mountain appears better to the climber from the plane, a friends true
virtues are understood well only in his absence. Friendship is sharing of selfless love
and pleasure. The poet advises us to seek for a friend in whose company you feel the
freshness of the morning dew.

POEM
POET

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TELEVISION
ROALD DAHL

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Paragraph Answer Questions :
Introduction

The poem Television is written by Roald Dahl. Roald Dahl is a British

novelist, short story writer and poet. The present poem is taken from his collection of
poems titled Revolting Rhymes. His works written mostly for children made
him one of the best-selling authors in English.

Explanation

In this poem Roald Dahl expresses fear over what the modern invention the
television set has done to children. He points out that watching TV has become a
craze in modern time. Children of today spend hours together in front of the idiot
box. They are unable to take the eyes off the screen. They are fascinated and
intoxicated by the meaningless entertainment that is churned out on TV. They lose
the capacity to think. It also prevents them from using their imagination in a creative
way. therefore, the poet exhorts parents to throw away their TV sets at once. He begs
them to replace the TV stand with a bookshelf. The habit of reading books should be
inculcated once more in children. Children may initially protest but soon they will
discover the joys of reading.

Annotations

Introduction

These thought-provoking lines are taken from the poem Television written by
Roald Dahl a famous British novelist, short story writer and poet.

Context

These lines tell us about how the modern invention the television affects the
creativity and imagination in children.

Explanation

In this poem Roald Dahl expresses fear over what the modern invention
the television set has done to children. He points out that watching TV has
become a craze in modern time. Children of today spend hours together
gaping wide at idiot box. They are unable to take the eyes off the screen.
They are fascinated and intoxicated by the meaningless entertainment
that is churned out on TV. They lose the capacity to think. It also prevents
them from using their imagination in a creative way. Therefore, the poet
exhorts parents to throw away their TV sets at once. He begs them to replace the TV
stand with a bookshelf. The habit of reading books should be inculcated once more in
children. Children may initially protest but soon they will discover the joys of
reading.

POEM
POET

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MOTHERs DAY
SHIV K. KUMAR

Introduction

These lines are taken from the poem Mothers Day written by Shiv. K. Kumar.

Context

In the context of bringing out the contrast between western and Indian culture with
reference to the celebration of Mothers Day, the poet has written these lines.

Explanation

Mother is not just another member of the family for Indians. She is the deity whom
Indians worship almost every day. Westerners celebrate the mothers day once in a
year on the second Sunday of May. They offer to their mother a number of gifts along
with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. This they do in the most ritualistic manner. This
is insulting the mother says the poet. We, on the contrary, worship our mother every
day. We do it with the same sense of devotion as we offer yellow rice to the birds in
the shrine every morning. Our ways may seem silly to the westerners who call us

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people of the Dark Continent. But we are the most enlightened people on the earth
retorts the poet.