English Learning

  THE PHOTO ALBUM  Ravi and Puja’s grandmother lived in Pelling. She was a retired teacher. The children used to visit her every winter vacation. One of the best things about grandmother was that you could talk to her about everything. Grandmother’s hobby was collecting old photographs. She had many albums with photographs of the family and friends from her childhood days. Her favourite photographs were those of her grandchildren. She had pasted the photographs carefully, with notes at the side of each. It was the story of her life. During their holidays, the grandchildren loved looking through the photographs. Grandmother made all the photographs come to life by telling the stories behind all the photographs. One sunny winter morning, Ravi asked her, ‘Grandma, who is this boy? He looks almost like me.’ Grandmother: Don’t you recognize him? It is your father when he was in school! Puja: Is this Papa? Grandmother: Yes, Ravi looks exactly like him at that age. Puja: Does this me...

  THE TRIAL SCENE FROM THE MERCHANT OF VENICE THE CHARACTERS: Antonio : a merchant of Venice Shylock : a money lender Bassanio : Antonio's friend Portia : Bassanio's wife Balthazar : Portia in disguise as a judge Gratiano : Bassanio's friend Nerissa : Portia's maid Duke : The Chief Justice of the Court The story so far: Antonio, a merchant of Venice, borrowed money from his enemy Shylock to help his friend  Bassanio get married to Portia, a beautiful and intelligent lady. For this he signed an unusual kind of bond. This bond was that if Antonio could not return the mone??y on time, Shylock could cut a pound of flesh from Antonio's chest. Antonio was unable to pay back the money on time, so now he is facing a trial. Now read what happens in the trial scene. THE TRIAL SCENE DUKE: But Shylock, Bassanio has brought twice the money. BASSANIO: No, my Lord, not just twice. I have brought three times the money; and I am prepared to pay him four times or five times as much a...

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT  Introduction  What is the full form  of UFO? Discuss in pairs the following. Do you think life exists on other planets? Is it possible for us to find out? Why/Why not? Would you like to meet someone from another planet? What do you think this person from another planet will look like? Draw a picture of it. In this lesson you will be reading an article about unidentified flying objects.  Millions of people through the centuries have claimed to have seen objects in the sky. Thousands have taken the trouble to record it and submit their reports to scientists, agencies investing UFOs, various ministries, astronomers, and even the police. Many of these were taken to be meteors, planets, balloons, gases, aircrafts, clouds and even mere figments of the imagination. But there has been a significant number of sightings that have gone beyond man’s explanation. It is true that disc-shaped objects have been sighted by many honest and sober people. Pho...

  In pairs discuss your answers to the following. Do you love God? Does God love you? How do you know? What types of person does God love? Now read the following poem and find out the answer to the third question. ABOU BEN ADHEM Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase) Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, And saw- within the moonlight in his room, Making it rich and like a lily in bloom- An angel, writing in a book of gold. Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,  And to the Presence in the room he said, 'What writest thou?' The vision raised its head, And with a look made of all sweet accord, Answered, 'The names of those who love the Lord.' 'And is mine one?' said Abou. 'Nay, not so,' Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low, But cheerly still, and said, 'I pray thee, then, Write me as one that loves his fellow men.' The angel wrote and vanished. The next night, It came again with a great wakening light, And showed the names whom love of G...

My Cherry Tree - Emu Sangkit Foning I saw this morning A sturdy man  Swing his rusty axe Upon a shiny trunk. He hacked it once,  He hacked it twice, He hacked a hundred times I'm sure. Doesn't he know It's my favourite tree Growing there over the years? Hasn't he seen Its November blush Glowing against blue skies? Doesn't he know The birds will wait For March and the cherries red? Perhaps, perhaps he planted the tree, Perhaps, perhaps he needs it now, Perhaps, perhaps h has the right To jab it and hack it to pieces. For Solved Exercises of this poem, click on the link below: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTgYmbQGweWg7n1IMh3PCA/join

THE THIRTEENTH BULLET    The mountainous countryside of Owari enjoyed a peaceful existence. The villagers felled trees and burned charcoal, which they would carry over the narrow trails to the nearest towns. Hunters were successful here, for there was plenty of game. As the days passed by, nothing ever happened that was worth the telling. Until suddenly everything changed, and not a single day went by without something happening to upset the whole village. At first, fowl began to go astray, then cattle began to disappear. Even worse the villagers themselves began to fear for their safety. Often those who were confident of knowing their way did not return home from the fields at nightfall. In the morning they were found with torn limbs and mauled faces. The villagers knew that some unknown beast was terrorizing the forest, so they went many times to track it down. They spread traps, but the beast was unusually clever. It was as though it knew exactly what the villagers were...

Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead Home they brought her warrior dead: She nor swooned nor uttered cry: All her maidens, watching said, She must weep or she will die.' Then they praised him, soft and low,  Call'd him worthy to be loved, Truest friend and noblest foe; Yet she neither spoke nor moved. Stole a maiden rom her place, Lightly to the warrior stept, Took the face-cloth from the face; Yet she neither moved nor wept. Rose a nurse of ninety years, Set his child upon her knee; Like summer tempests came her tears- 'Sweet my child! I live for thee.' -Lord Tennyson For Solved Exercises of this poem,click on the link below: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJTgYmbQGweWg7n1IMh3PCA/join

MY DAD IS REALLY GREAT - LOIS OSBORN Ron is a new boy in my class. I like him a lot, but sometimes he makes me mad.  One day I showed the kids at school a book my dad had written. Then Ron had to speak up.  "Aw, that's nothing, Harry George," he said. "You should see what my father can do. He can tear a phone book in half with his bare hands. I bet your father can't do that." When I got home, I gave the phone book to my dad. I told him what Ron's father could do. "How about you?" I asked. He shook his head."I'm no strong man, Harry George." He said. I put the phone book away. He could at least have tried. Then I remembered how once my mom and I had watched my dad climb a tall ladder, crawl up the roof, hang onto a chimney, and reach way out to rescue my kitten. We were scared my dad would fall. Maybe my dad isn't real strong, but he sure is brave. So I told Ron all about what my dad had done.  "Aw, that's nothing, Har...