Q.2: Precis and Title Title: The Stimulating Power of Cold Climate
Precis:
Moderately cold climates, especially in northern Europe, invigorate human energy by offering manageable challenges. Unlike extreme cold that paralyzes or tropical heat that induces lethargy, temperate cold compels people to work for survival—building houses, gathering fuel, and wearing warm clothes. These demands promote industriousness and vitality. In contrast, people in tropical zones, requiring little food, clothing, or shelter, often lead relaxed, less energetic lives. The seasonal differences reflect this too—people are more active in winter than summer. Hence, moderate cold fosters strength and discipline in man.
Q.3: Reading Comprehension
- 1. In what sense have machines become our masters?
Machines, created to serve man, now dominate our time and attention. We depend on them so heavily that we spend most of our lives operating or maintaining them. Their demands—fuel, oil, and care—have made them stern masters rather than passive tools.
- 2. Why is the leisure brought by machines considered a curse?
The time and energy saved by machines are rarely used for constructive purposes. Instead of using them to enrich civilization, we often squander them or use them to build even more machines, perpetuating the cycle without meaningful progress.
- 3. What exactly is civilization, and do you agree with the author?
Civilization, as defined by the author, is the creation of beauty, the pursuit of knowledge, and the establishment of justice. Yes, this perspective is valid, as true progress lies not just in technical advancement but in moral and intellectual growth.
- 4. What does ‘making more beautiful things’ mean?
It means creating art, culture, architecture, literature, and innovations that enrich human life. I would create educational tools, community programs, and sustainable designs to uplift society.
- 5. What are your plans to prevent poverty, and who would you help first?
I would focus on universal education, skill training, and microfinance programs. My first priority would be women and children in underdeveloped areas, as empowering them has the most transformative impact.
Q.4 (a): Correct the Sentences
❌ 1. They only work when they have no money.
✅ They work only when they have no money.❌ 2. They left the hotel here they had been staying in a motor-car.
✅ They left the hotel, where they had been staying, in a motor-car.❌ 3. I cannot by no means allow you to do so.
✅ I cannot by any means allow you to do so.❌ 4. My friend said he never remembered having read a more enjoyable book.
✅ Correct as is.❌ 5. Going up the hill, an old temple was seen.
✅ Going up the hill, we saw an old temple.❌ 6. One day the bird did not perform certain tricks which had thought it to his satisfaction.
✅ One day the bird did not perform certain tricks which he had thought it had learned to his satisfaction.❌ 7. I was rather impressed by the manner of the orator than by his matter.
✅ I was impressed more by the manner of the orator than by his matter.❌ 8. What an awful weather!
✅ What awful weather!
Q.4 (b): Punctuate the Sentences
There is a slavery that no legislation can abolish: the slavery of caste.
All that I am, all that I hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.
Take away that bauble, said Cromwell, pointing to the mace which lay upon the table.
There is only one cure for the evils which newly acquired freedom produces, and that cure is freedom.
History, it has been said, is the essence of innumerable biographies.
Q.5 (a): Fill in the Blanks (Prepositions)
- Besides a Ford, he has a Fiat car.
- I saw him felling a big tree with a hatchet.
- I must start at dawn to reach the station in time.
- I have known him for a long time.
- Will you walk into my parlour?
6. The public are cautioned against pickpockets
Q.5 (b): Dialogue to Paragraph
Jack greeted Swarup and urged him to stop studying and come out to play tennis. Swarup politely declined, explaining that the exams were near and he needed every hour for study. Jack expressed frustration with exams, claiming they were useless. Swarup disagreed and said that passing the exam was essential to earn a degree. Jack scoffed at the value of a degree, arguing that many graduates were jobless. Swarup responded that his goal was not only to pass but to enrich his knowledge and develop his mind.
Q.6 (a): Word Pair Differences with Examples
- Callous vs Callus
- Callous (adj.): emotionally insensitive – He was so callous that he ignored the beggar’s plea.
- Callus (noun): a hard thickened area on the skin – He had a callus on his hand from manual labor.
- Born vs Borne
- Born (adj.): given birth to – She was born in Lahore.
- Borne (verb): carried or endured – The pain was borne with courage.
- Faint vs Feint
- Faint (adj./verb): weak or lose consciousness – He fainted due to exhaustion.
- Feint (noun): a deceptive movement – The boxer used a feint to distract his opponent.
- Dinghy vs Dingy
- Dinghy (noun): a small boat – They rowed the dinghy across the lake.
- Dingy (adj.): dull or dirty – The room was dingy and smelled of mold.
- Lose vs Loose
- Lose (verb): to misplace or be deprived of – Don’t lose your wallet again.
- Loose (adj.): not tight – The screw was loose.
- Waiver vs Waver
- Waiver (noun): official permission to disregard a rule – He signed a waiver before surgery.
- Waver (verb): to hesitate – She did not waver in her decision.
Q.6 (b): Use of Idioms in Sentences
- Show and tell: The teacher held a show and tell session for the students to present their hobbies.
- Helter-skelter: Books lay helter-skelter across the floor after the earthquake.
- To the death: The knight swore to defend his king to the death.
- Tilt at windmills: He’s always tilting at windmills instead of solving real issues.
- Het up: She was all het up over the delay in the train schedule.
Translation:
Lahore is not just a city of politics, but also an ancient cradle of culture. During the peak of the Mughal era, this city stood as a beacon of vibrant traditions. It was also a prominent center of knowledge and literature. In the same era, the city was a hub for Sufism, with great mystics like Hazrat Ali Hajveri, the renowned author of Kashf-ul-Mahjoob, choosing Lahore as their spiritual abode. His shrine, Data Darbar, still draws thousands of devotees today. Even after centuries, the spiritual light of Lahore continues to shine. Its cultural influence spread far and wide. At the time of Pakistan’s creation, Lahore’s stature remained unmatched, and to this day, the city’s importance remains undiminished.