The Voice of the Rain

Reading II: The Voice of the Rain by Walt Whitman

A. Match the words in column A with their meaning in column B.

Answer:

a. eternal: never-ending   b. impalpable: not easily understood   c. vaguely: unclearly   d. descend: come down   e. lave: to pour out as water   f. atomies: indivisible particles   g. reck: to take care of

B. Fill in the blanks by choosing the words given below.

[impalpable, recks, globe, drought, beautify, latent] Answer:

a. The river ran dry during the drought. b. It is still impalpable to understand how the earth originated. c. The company produces a wide variety of make-up and skin care products designed to gently and effectively beautify human skin. d. His greatest ambition is to sail around the globe. e. Without training, his musical talent remained latent. f. What recks it whether they win or lose?

C. Complete the summary of the poem using suitable words or phrases given below.

[quenches, rhythm, mysterious, heal, atomies, condensation, ascends, showers, originality] Answer:

The poem is a conversation between the poet and the rain. When the poet asks the identity of the drizzle, she replies that she is the Earth. The rain expresses that it gives happiness to mother Earth. The rain is a perpetual process which has different forms at different times. It rises from the land as water vapour and ascends high up to the sky. It takes the form of clouds. Though it changes its form or shape, its originality remains unchanged. It shows that nature is not fully understood. Some parts of it always remain mysterious.

The raindrops pour down from above to wash away atomies and dust layers. It quenches the thirst of the dry Earth and heals everything that is becoming lifeless. In other words, the showers make the Earth beautiful and pure. Finally, the poet observes that the life of rain is similar to that of a song. A song also has a power to calm, heal, transform and thrill. In the same way, repeated evaporation and condensation purifies the rain. It beautifies the whole earth as a rhythm does to a poem or music.

D. Answer the following questions.

Answer:

a. What are the two voices in the poem? Who do they belong to? Ans: The two voices in the poem are: the voice of the rain and the voice of the song. The voice of the rain belongs to the earth and the voice of the song belongs to the poet's heart.

b. How is the cyclic movement of the rain shown in the poem? Ans: The cyclic movement of the rain shown in the poem is as follows: It goes up by evaporation, condenses when cooled in the sky and falls in the form of rain again.

c. Why are the showers necessary for the Earth? Ans: The showers are necessary for the Earth to wash the atomies and to quench the thirst.

d. How are the rain and music similar? Ans: Both the rain and music are similar in the sense that music heals people and the rain heals the earth. And both of them have rhythm.

e. How are the clouds formed? Ans: The clouds are formed when the vapour goes up in the sky and condenses.

f. List the pairs of opposite words in the poem. Ans: rise–falling, heaven–earth, day–night, unborn–life.

D. What may happen on the Earth if it does not rain for a long time? Discuss in a group.

Answer:

If there is an extended period without rainfall, several consequences can occur on Earth. Major effects include: Drought: Prolonged absence of rain can result in drought, affecting agriculture and leading to food shortages and water scarcity for humans and animals. Forest Fires: Dry vegetation becomes vulnerable to fires; lack of rainfall can increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires, risking ecosystems and settlements. Soil Erosion: Without rain, soil can dry out and become prone to erosion, affecting agriculture and habitats. Heat Waves: Absence of rain can contribute to rising temperatures and heat waves, affecting health and ecosystems. Water Scarcity: Reduced or no rainfall can deplete lakes, rivers, and groundwater, leading to lack of drinking water for humans and animals. In summary, a prolonged absence of rainfall can result in severe consequences for the environment and societies.

Grammar II

A. Complete the following sentences using the correct form of verbs in brackets.

Answer:

a. If Ram were the captain, the team … (play) better. Ans: would play

b. I …..(call) you had I known you were in Nepal. Ans: would have called

c. If he … ….(not/come) to Nepal, he would not have seen Mt. Everest. Ans: had not come

d. Had you arrived a bit earlier, you… . . ..(see) Ram. Ans: could have seen

e. We could slow down global warming if we… ….(reduce) energy consumption. Ans: reduced

f. If he were to see me, he …….(know) me at once. Ans: would know

g. Were Ram in the USA, she… .. . (be) working for a company. Ans: would be

h. How would you feel if someone …..(ask) you for an autograph? Ans: asked

i. What….(you/do) if Ram had proposed you for marriage? Ans: would you have done

j. If I ……(have) a life jacket, I could certainly swim across the river. Ans: had

Writing II

A. Study the following letter to the editor of a national daily complaining about the shortage of water in Kathmandu.

Answer:

A locality in Kathmandu
19 May 2022

The Editor, ABC
Dear Sir,

I am writing this letter to bring your immediate attention to the critical problem of water scarcity that our locality is currently facing. The residents have been grappling with water shortages for an extended period, and if this issue remains unaddressed, it may escalate into conflicts among people struggling to obtain even small amounts of water.

The existing water tank fails to hold an adequate supply to meet the needs of the residents. Compounding the problem, the majority of residents are not practicing water conservation. Water wastage during activities such as bathing, laundry, dishwashing, and gardening is widespread.

In light of these circumstances, I have a few suggestions that I believe can help resolve the problem promptly. I kindly request you to arrange a general meeting of the residents to discuss this issue thoroughly. Additionally, leveraging local cable TV and community radio to disseminate the message of water conservation among the residents would be highly beneficial. Conducting door-to-door campaigns can significantly raise awareness about the importance of conserving water during daily activities.

I propose inviting water conservation experts to enlighten us about various methods and technologies available for water preservation. Promoting the practice of reusing water within our community is another crucial step we should encourage. Rainwater harvesting techniques, if implemented, would undeniably alleviate the crisis to some extent.

In conclusion, I sincerely hope that immediate steps will be taken to address this pressing issue. The cooperation and support of the concerned authorities are vital to finding a sustainable solution.

Thank you for your attention and consideration.

Yours faithfully,
Ram

B. Write a letter of complaint to the concerned authority about the unmanaged garbage in your locality.

Answer:

Date: 1/15/2023

To, The Mayor, ABC, Kathmandu, Nepal
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing this letter to express my deep concern about the escalating problem of unmanaged garbage in our locality. Over time, there has been a noticeable increase in the amount of scattered garbage, which has reached an alarming level. This situation poses a severe threat to public health and demands immediate action.

Regrettably, the garbage in our area is not being collected regularly, leading to overflowing bins. Consequently, the streets have become littered with trash, creating not only an eyesore but also a breeding ground for pests and diseases. Moreover, the pervasive foul smell makes it extremely difficult for residents to live comfortably in the area.

I implore you to take prompt and decisive action to address this pressing issue. The garbage collection system urgently requires improvement, with regular and timely emptying of bins. Additionally, it is imperative that the authorities implement measures to ensure proper disposal of the garbage, preventing it from being left strewn on the streets.

Furthermore, I kindly request regular inspections of the area to ensure effective management of the garbage. Organizing awareness campaigns would also be beneficial in educating the public about the significance of proper garbage disposal and its impact on public health.

I sincerely hope that my concerns are taken seriously, and that the necessary steps are taken to rectify this problem promptly. Your swift action in this matter would be greatly appreciated. I eagerly await your response.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Yours faithfully,
[Your Name]