Parents

Reading I

A. Choose the words/phrases given below and write against the correct definitions.

a. remaining hidden so as to wait for somebody secretly → lurking

b. preoccupied with something continually to a troubling extent → obsessed

c. the act of looking at goods displayed in shop windows without intending to buy them → window shopping

d. bringing down one's feet heavily down on the ground → stamp

e. deserving or inviting disapproval; absurd → ridiculous

f. a set of clothes worn for a particular occasion or activity → outfit

g. to turn aside abruptly from a straight line or course → swerve

h. eating something hard, steadily and noisily → munching

i. look or gaze in an unpleasant and offensive way → leer

j. speaking with difficulty, repeating sounds or words and often stopping → stammer

B. Rewrite the following sentences in a chronological order.

c. Anuja told her father that she wanted to see her new friend.

e. She told her father about her new e-friend.

a. Her father accompanied her to meet her friend.

g. He observed that Anuja was looking like a boy in her new dress.

d. She revealed her secret e-identity to her father.

b. They saw a car on the other side of the road.

h. They waited for Anuja's friend for ten minutes.

f. Anuja's father shared the incident with his friend.

C. Read the story again and answer these questions.

a. Why do you think Anuja was unwilling to take her father along with her to meet her new friend?

Anuja was unwilling to take her father along with her to meet her new friend because she considered her father to be overly protective and didn't think anything bad would happen to her when meeting her e-friend.

b. How does she criticise her father?

Anuja criticizes her father by calling him obsessed and thinks he sees ghosts in every dark corner, implying that he is overly cautious and paranoid.

c. Describe Anuja's e-friend.

Anuja's e-friend is a girl whom she met on Facebook. However, Anuja confesses to her father that she pretended to be a boy while chatting with this friend.

d. What did Anja's father propose to go with her?

Anuja's father proposed to go with her to ensure her safety and to check if the friend she was meeting was genuine.

e. What was the shocking news for her father?

The shocking news for her father was when Anuja confessed that she pretended to be a boy while chatting with her e-friend.

f. Why did they return without meeting Anuja's friend?

They returned without meeting Anuja's friend because her friend's mother was already there, observing from a distance, and she didn't let her daughter get out of the car when she saw Anuja's father lurking around the meeting place.

g. Why do you think Dhurva laughed at the story of Anuja's father?

Dhurva laughed at the story of Anuja's father because he found the situation humorous and saw the irony in how the mother mistook Anuja's father for the e-friend and misunderstood his intentions.

h. How did the girl's mother see Anuja's father? Why didn't they talk to each other?

The girl's mother saw Anuja's father as a lecherous old man with an evil leer on his face. They didn't talk to each other because of this misunderstanding and the mother's concern for her daughter's safety.

D. What can be the consequences of faking your identities and bullying other people on the social media and the internet?

Faking identities and engaging in cyberbullying on social media and the internet can have severe and far-reaching consequences. Firstly, when individuals fake their identities, they undermine trust in online interactions and create an environment where genuine connections become difficult. Misrepresentation can lead to scams, fraud, and cybercrimes, causing financial loss and emotional distress to unsuspecting victims. Moreover, it erodes the authenticity of online platforms, making it harder to differentiate between real and fake profiles.

Secondly, cyberbullying can have devastating effects on victims' mental health and well-being. Constant harassment, online humiliation, and hurtful comments can lead to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Cyberbullying also isolates victims from their online communities, eroding their self-esteem and confidence. Additionally, online bullying can leave a permanent digital footprint, affecting the victims' reputation and future opportunities. Beyond the direct harm to individuals, cyberbullying also creates a toxic online atmosphere, impacting the overall social climate and contributing to a culture of negativity and hostility.

In conclusion, faking identities and cyberbullying on social media and the internet not only harm individuals directly involved but also have wider implications for online communities and society as a whole. It is essential for users to be responsible, respectful, and mindful of their actions online to promote a safe and positive digital environment.

Grammar I

B. Complete the sentences below with should, ought to or must. Use the negative forms where necessary.

a. Every child should take good care of their aging parents.

b. If you want to lose weight, you ought to exercise regularly.

c. A: Someone picked my pocket.
B: You must immediately inform the police about it.

d. A: How was the movie?
B: It was great. You should go and see it.

e. We must not disrespect our nation at any cost.

f. You look ill. You ought to see a doctor.

g. In order to maintain healthy habits, we should go to bed early and get up early in the morning.

h. You must not offend people with your harsh words.

i. We should learn to apologize to people to build trust and cooperation.

j. If you find someone's goods, you ought to try to return them to the respective person.

Writing I

B. Imagine that you are Niti, and that you were unable to attend the function. Write a reply email to Sambridhi apologising for your inability to attend her brother's wedding due to an urgent family business.

Dear Sambridhi,

I was so excited to receive your invitation to the wedding of your brother, Naman. I know how close you are to him, and I was really looking forward to celebrating this special occasion with you and your family.

Unfortunately, I have some urgent family business that I need to attend to on the day of the wedding. I'm so sorry that I won't be able to be there. I know how much this means to you, and I feel terrible that I'm going to miss it.

Please give Naman my warmest congratulations. I wish him and his new wife all the happiness in the world. I'll be thinking of you all on the day of the wedding, and I'll raise a glass to you in their honor.

I hope to see you soon.

With love,
Niti