Table of Contents

HoneySuckle-001

5

6

Before you read

In this lesson we look at what we are like and how each of us is different. We are all interesting people in different ways and we are all good at different things. As you read this, think about what you are like and what you enjoy doing.


Who I Am

Part I

Many Voices


Radha

6.1

My favourite activity is climbing trees. Just outside our house, there is a mango tree which I love to go up. Its branches spread out, so it is simple to climb up the tree, and I can sit comfortably in the fork of two branches. My mother tells me it is not sensible for girls to climb trees, but one afternoon she climbed up too, and both of us sat there talking and eating raw mangoes. When I am high up in the tree, I feel like I can rule the whole world.


Nasir

6.2
When I grow up, I want to become a seed collector. We have cotton fields in our village and every year, my father spends a lot of money on buying new seeds to grow our cotton plants. My grandfather told me that many years ago, he could collect the seeds from his own plants which could be sown to grow new plants during the next year. But today that doesn’t work so we have to spend money to buy new seeds every single year. I want to find out why that is so. I want to learn how to preserve seeds so that we can use them again and not spend money every year.

Rohit

6.3
If I had a huge amount of money I would travel and travel. I want to see the mountains of New Zealand because they looked beautiful in a magazine picture. I wish I could sail down the Amazon river in South America on a raft. I want to live on the beaches of Lakshadweep and dive down to see coral. I suppose I should go to the Konark temple in Orissa or the old city in Beijing in China and the Pyramids in Egypt too, but what I actually enjoy is seeing nature more than old buildings.


Serbjit

6.4
What makes me very angry is when people don’t believe me when I am telling the truth. For example, if I tell my teacher that I couldn’t do my homework because Ravi borrowed my book and forgot to return it. Or I tell my parents that it wasn’t me but my little brother who started the fight. Or if I tell my teacher that I really did study for the test even if I have got bad marks. They all look at me as if they think I am telling lies. The look on their faces really angers me. Sometimes I have to look down at my shoes and count to ten so that I do not show that I am angry.


Dolma

6.5
When I grow up, I am going to be the Prime Minister of India. People always laugh when I say that, but I am sure that I will do it. Everyone in my class asks me what to do when they have a problem, and my teacher always trusts me when something needs to be done in school. I want to make things better for everyone. I want us to have good hospitals and roads and schools. I want to make sure that there are many good scientists in India who will invent cures for diseases and send a spaceship to Mars.


Peter

6.6

My favourite day is the second Sunday of every month. On this day our whole family always goes to the cinema hall to see a film. My father gets the tickets in advance and all of us — my grandmother, my parents, my two brothers and I — take the bus there. In the interval my father buys us peanuts and I love to sit in the darkness of the hall eating and watching the film. Afterwards we always stop to eat ice cream. Everyone is in a good mood and we all feel very lucky that we are such a happy family.


Working With The Text

A. Answer the following questions.

1. Peter’s favourite day of the week is Sunday because —————–——————————————————————————————————— ——————–—

2.  Nasir wants to learn ——————————————————————————

———————————————————————––––––––

3. Dolma believes that she can make a good Prime Minister because ——————————————————————————————————––————–————–––————––————––————––

B. Write True or False against each of the following statements.

1. Peter is an only child. ——————————

2. When Serbjit gets angry he shouts at
people. ——————————

3. Nasir lives in the city. ——————————

4. Radha’s mother enjoys doing things with her. ——————————


Part II

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES

Each one of us is skilled or good at something. But do you know that different people are intelligent in different ways?


6.7

Being good at your studies is one kind of intelligence, but there are many others too. Read the descriptions to find out which of the following types of intelligence best describes you. Remember that there will probably be more than one type of intelligence which fits you.


6.8


Working with the text

Fill in the blanks to name the different kinds of intelligence. One has been done for you.

When I enjoy listening to people and solving their problems I use my interpersonal intelligence.

(i) When I enjoy dancing or physical activity, I use my ————————— intelligence.

(ii) When I enjoy looking at maps and examining pictures I use my ——————— intelligence.

(iii) When I enjoy working with numbers and solving maths problems I use my ——————————— intelligence.

(iv) When I enjoy telling a story or arguing, I use my ———————— intelligence.


Working with Language

Match the job on the left with its description on the right.

(i) Navigator —————       (a) Advises people what to do about jobs, personal problems, etc.

(ii) Architect —————           (b) Works in politics, usually by standing for election.

(iii) Politician —————        (c) Finds and monitors the route to get to a place, or the direction of travel.

(iv) Engineer —————       (d) Reports on recent news for newspaper, radio, or TV.

(v) Computer —————        (e) Plans the design of a building, programmer town, or city.

(vi) Athlete —————            (f) Controls and puts together a programme of music.

(vii) Disc jockey ————— (g) Works in sports or activities such as running, jumping,etc.

(viii) Composer —————    (h) Designs and builds things like roads, bridges, or engines.

(ix) Counsellor —————       (i) Makes up notes to create music.

(x) Journalist —————         (j) Designs the system by which a computer runs or gives information.


Writing

Write a paragraph about yourself so that people who read it will get to know you better. You could write about yourself from any point of view, or choose one of the following topics.

•  What I enjoy doing most

•  What makes me angry

•  What I hate to do

•  What I want to become

(Remember to give a reason or details of what you write about, so that anyone reading it will understand you better.)

After you have finished your paragraph affix your photo on the sheet and display it on the wall. Read each other’s paragraphs. Did you understand someone else better after you had read what he/she wrote?


Working with Language


Read these columns about careers in environment, that is, working to keep our world — the land, air, water and the people, animals and plants — safe from natural and man-made dangers. Check out the 
6.9
personality profiles needed to be successful at different kinds of careers in the environmental field. Find out whether you are more adventurous than your partner, or whether your partner is a better inquirer than others. You may wish to prepare a personality profile of yourself/your partner. In groups, attempt some of the activities suggested at the end.
6.10

6.11

Speaking


A. Why does Radha’s mother tell her that it is not suitable for girls to climb trees? Find points to agree with Radha or her mother.

Plan what you will say by making notes like this:

• Girls should be able to climb trees if they wish

1. ———————————————————————————————————

2. ———————————————————————————————————

3. ———————————————————————————————————

• Girls should not be allowed to climb trees

1. ———————————————————————————————————

2. ———————————————————————————————————

3. ———————————————————————————————————

Now divide the class into two groups. Present to the rest of the class the opinion of Radha who thinks there is no harm in girls climbing trees and of her mother who thinks girls should not do this.

B. Sit in a circle so that you can see each other. Each one must talk

to complete the following sentence in your own way.

“What makes me very angry is ...”

Remember to listen with respect and without comment to each person as he/she speaks.


Know Your Country

1. The Hirakud Dam is built on a major river. Name it.

2. In which state is Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of the mainland?

3. Name the channel that separates the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Answers on page 137


The Wonderful Words

Imagine a world without language. All humans speak at least one language. The words we speak bring out our thoughts. Read the following poem on words.

Never let a thought shrivel and die

For want of a way to say it

For English is a wonderful game

And all of you can play it.

All that you do is match the words

To the brightest thoughts in your head

So that they come out clear and true

And handsomely groomed and fed—

For many of the loveliest things

Have never yet been said.

Words are the food and dress of thought

They give it its body and swing

And everyone’s longing today to hear

Some fresh and beautiful thing;

But only words can free a thought

From its prison behind your eyes

May be your mind is holding now

A marvellous new surprise!

Mary O’Neill


Working with the Poem

1. With your partner, complete the following sentences in your own words using the ideas in the poem.

(i) Do not let a thought shrivel and die because ————————————————————————————————––––————————

(ii) English is a ————————————————————— with words that everyone can play.

(iii) One has to match ————————————————————————

(iv) Words are the ————————————————————— of thought.

2. In groups of four discuss the following lines and their meanings.

(i) All that you do is match the words

To the brightest thoughts in your head

(ii) For many of the loveliest things

Have never yet been said

(iii) And everyone’s longing today to hear

Some fresh and beautiful thing

(iv) But only words can free a thought

From its prison behind your eyes