Me at the Beginning of Life

Reading I: Me at the Beginning of Life

A. Find the words from the text that have the following meanings.

Answer:

a. lacking taste: insipid

b. wrote words: inscribed

c. twisted together: tangled

d. causing difficulty in breathing: suffocating

e. a particular attitude towards something: perspective

f. a person's child or children: offspring

g. bad luck: misfortune

B. Complete the sentences below choosing the correct words from the text.

Answer:

a. The word 'calm' is opposite in meaning to restless.

b. The phrase passed away means 'died.'

c. The word invisible means incapable of being seen.

d. The word 'wish' and will/long are synonyms.

e. The word pollute means making dirty.

C. State whether the following statements are true or false.

Answer:

a. Jhamak Ghimire defines her life as a beautiful flower of creation. Ans: False

b. According to her, our fortune decides how our life will be. Ans: False

c. The author was happy with how she spent her childhood. Ans: False

d. People blamed Jhamak herself for her physical disability. Ans: True

e. According to the writer, Homer was incomplete because he was physically incapable. Ans: False

f. Jhamak could make grandmother happy with her voice. Ans: False

g. Jhamak's grandmother still looks after her. Ans: False

D. Answer these questions.

Answer:

a. Why does Jhamak think of her life as a burdensome life? Ans: Jhamak thinks of her life as a burdensome life because she couldn't do anything by herself.

b. When does fortune draw a line of fate? Ans: Fortune draws a line of fate on the sixth day after birth.

c. How did people respond to her life? Was she happy with their behaviour? Ans: People said that her life was the fruit of sins of her former life. No, she was not happy with their behaviour.

d. Who does Jhamak compare herself with? What made them different from Jhamak? Ans: Jhamak compares herself with Nikolai Ostrovsky and Helen Keller. They were different from Jhamak because they wrote history before they died.

e. Did achieving awareness become a curse for her? Why? Ans: Yes, achieving awareness became a curse for her because she didn't have a voice to speak and strength to walk.

f. How does Jhamak picturise her family's economic condition during her childhood? Ans: Jhamak picturises her family's economic condition during her childhood as poor. They had no sufficient food to eat.

D. Read the opening chapter of 'Jivan Kadan Ki Phul' in Nepali and narrate the story of Jhamak's life in your own words.

Answer:

Jhamak Kumari Ghimire is a Nepalese writer, poet, and disability activist who was born with cerebral palsy. Despite her physical disability, she has overcome numerous challenges and obstacles to become one of the most renowned literary figures in Nepal.

Jhamak faced many challenges due to her disability. Her parents could not afford to provide her with proper medical care, and she was unable to attend school like other children. However, Jhamak was determined to learn and educate herself, and she taught herself to read and write using her left foot.

Despite facing discrimination and ridicule from her community, Jhamak continued to pursue her passion for writing and poetry. She wrote her first book, a collection of poems titled "Sindhuli Gatha" (Sindhuli Tales), at the age of 17, using a typewriter with her left foot.

Jhamak's talent and perseverance did not go unnoticed, and her book received critical acclaim, winning numerous awards and accolades. Her writing explores themes of love, loss, and social injustice, and her works have been translated into many languages.

In addition to her literary contributions, Jhamak has also been an advocate for disability rights and has worked to raise awareness about the challenges faced by people with disabilities in Nepal. Her life story is a testament to the human spirit's resilience and strength.

Grammar I

A. Fill in the gaps with the correct relative pronouns.

Answer:

a. I admired the player whose performance was fantastic.

b. We had some juice which was in the fridge.

c. She didn't tell her teacher about her problem which was her mistake.

d. My mother, who is a farmer, grows a lot of vegetables.

e. You are my friend with whom I want to sit.

f. I want to help those children whose economic condition is very bad.

g. This is the road where the accident took place.

h. The mobile phone, which I bought six years ago, is still working.

i. It was in 2015 when the earthquake hit Nepal badly.

j. Ram is a wonderful lady whom everyone can trust.

B. Join the following pairs of sentences as in the example.

Answer:

a. The letter reached me this morning which my friend sent from abroad.

b. This is the palace which Ram built.

c. The boy committed cybercrime. The judge sent him to jail. Ans: The judge sent the boy who committed cybercrime to jail.

d. He is a liar whom you should not believe.

e. I know an artist who moves with an artificial leg.

f. Bring me the file which is about our new project.

g. We met a girl who had lost her way.

h. I saw a soldier whose bravery impressed everyone.

i. Once upon a time there lived a giant in a forest where nobody dared to go.

j. The dog took away the ball which the kids were playing with.

Writing I

A. Write a short biography of a Nepali literary figure using the outlines given below.

Birth: 1939 – a district, Nepal. Education: Bachelor's Arts – learnt letters at home – taught by local teachers. Publications: poetry collections and others. Contributions: Poet, former Chancellor of the Nepal Academy, pioneer of Tesro Aayam (Third Dimension) movement. Awards: various national awards.

Answer:

Ram, also known by his pen name, was a prominent Nepali literary figure who made significant contributions to Nepali literature. He was born in 1939 in a district of Nepal. He learnt letters at home from local teachers and completed Bachelor's in Arts later in life. He was a multitalented writer, poet, and social activist who wrote in both Nepali and a regional language. He authored several books, including poetry collections, novels, and short story collections, which dealt with social and political issues, as well as culture and traditions. His major publications include poetry collections and other works. He was a poet, former Chancellor of the Nepal Academy, and pioneer of the Tesro Aayam (Third Dimension) movement. He was awarded various national awards. He left behind a rich literary legacy that continues to inspire and influence Nepali literature and culture.