Weathers

Reading II: Weathers

A. Find the words from the poem that are similar in meaning to the following words/phrases.

Answer:

a. a brief and usually light fall of rain: showers

b. sings: bills

c. young women: maids

d. to tumble about; throw into disorder: betumble

e. baby birds: nestlings

f. dislikes: shuns

g. a dull greyish-brown colour: duns

h. beat or sound with a strong, regular rhythm: throb

i. small rivers; streams: rivulets

B. Answer these questions.

Answer:

a. What do the nestlings do in the spring? Ans: The nestlings fly in the spring.

b. What does the nightingale do? Ans: The nightingale bills its best.

c. How do the girls come out in spring? Ans: The girls come out in sprig-muslin dressed in the spring.

d. What plan do people make? Ans: People make a plan to visit south and west.

e. What happens to beeches in winter? Ans: In winter, beeches turn brown and dun.

f. Where do rooks go? Why do they migrate? Ans: Rooks go to their nests or rookeries. They might migrate for various reasons, including breeding, access to food, social bonding, and seeking suitable environmental conditions that support their survival and reproductive success.

g. Does the poet enjoy the winter or the spring? Why? Ans: The poet enjoys the spring because it is a good season.

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

[chestnut, young girls, south and west, Thomas Hardy, severity, sunny, beeches, rooks, hang] Answer:

The poem 'Weathers' was composed by the English poet Thomas Hardy, who talks about two different seasons: spring and winter. In the first stanza, the pleasant spring season is described. Cuckoo and nightingale feel good in this season. The light rain flows over the pointed leaves of the chestnut tree. The poet is pleased as the nightingale sings at its best tune. People come out of their houses to enjoy the weather and the birds' song. The young girls are seen in their fine clothes. People plan to visit different places in the south and west. To an English person, the south and the west are associated with summer holiday destinations, where the weather at that time is often warm and sunny, and many coastal towns provide welcoming accommodations and amusements. The poet likes this weather as it is liked by all the birds, animals, and humans as well.

In the second stanza, he talks about the winter's coldness and severity. All the natural beauty turns into dullness and discomfort. The cuckoo hates this weather. The beeches turn dull and brown as their leaves are threshed by the wind. The water drops hang from the wooden bars of the gates. One can see some streams overflowing as it has been raining a lot. The rooks fly to their homes as the harshness of winter gradually grows. The poet dislikes the winter season because it is very cold and wet.

Symbolically the poet tries to state the bright and dark aspects of human life, and the word 'weathers' indicates human life. The spring represents the bright whereas the winter represents the dark aspects of our life.

D. In which season would you like to travel? Why?

Answer:

The best time to travel is during the months from March to May and September to November, which are the spring and autumn seasons respectively. During these months, the weather is generally pleasant with clear skies, warm temperatures, and low humidity. The mountain views are also usually the clearest during these seasons, making it ideal for trekking and other outdoor activities. In contrast, the summer season (June to August) can be quite hot and humid, while the winter season (December to February) can be extremely cold, with heavy snowfall in some areas, making it difficult to travel and explore. Therefore, it is recommended to plan your trip during the spring or autumn season to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience.

Grammar II

A. Add suitable question tags.

Answer:

a. I'd rather go travelling, wouldn't I?

b. Everything is okay, isn't it?

c. I shan't be in your position, shall I?

d. I don't think he'll come soon, will he?

e. Let's not have cold drinks, shall we?

f. All is well, isn't it?

g. There is a coffee shop near the gate, isn't there?

h. Nothing was there, was it?

i. The car sped along the road, didn't it?

j. He's got a very peculiar voice, hasn't he?

k. Ram, bring me your pen, will you?

l. Ram seldom plays cards, does he?

m. Everyone will be satisfied with my job, won't they?

n. None met me last week, did they?

o. Everything is perishable, isn't it?

p. I think he's busy, isn't he?

Writing II

Prepare a brochure of a tourist place in your locality. Include the following points: i. Name of the place ii. Location iii. Accessibility iv. Major attractions v. Entry requirements (if any) vi. Contact information

Answer:

Name of the place: A Scenic Town in the Hills

Location: A district in the hills of Nepal

Accessibility: About 4 hours' drive from the capital via the highway

Major attractions: Green forest, white water, monasteries, local food

Entry requirements: None

Contact information: ABC Municipality office; email: [email protected]

Project Work: Visit a library (e.g. your school library). Read an adventure story, note down its main events, and present its summary in the class.

Answer:

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is a classic novel set in St. Petersburg, Missouri in the 1840s and follows the childhood of Tom Sawyer, a mischievous and imaginative boy who gets into wild adventures that have bigger implications than they seem. There are many characters that intertwine with his story: Huck Finn, his partner in adventures, Becky Thatcher, Tom's love interest, and Injun Joe, the main antagonist. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer creates a story that brings you back to your childhood memories through the things Tom and Huck get up to. Although there is some very shocking language, it doesn't reflect what Twain thinks; it is there to make the setting feel more realistic at a time when slavery still existed, especially in a state like Missouri.