🧾 Title: "A Cinematic Resistance: Nizar Hassan’s Vision of Palestine" ________________________________________ ✅ Original Passage Word Count: 331 🎯 Target Précis Word Count (~⅓): 110–115 words ✍️ Précis (Word Count: 113)
Nizar Hassan, a renowned Palestinian documentary filmmaker born in 1960, uses cinema to challenge Israeli narratives and portray Palestinian struggles. His 1994 film Independence critiques the irony of Israeli claims over Palestinian lands. His recent documentary, My Grandfather’s Path, captures the essence of Palestinian identity and dreams amid Israeli occupation and global indifference. In a personal letter, Hassan warned against being consumed by anger, urging reflection on deeper aspirations through poetry, art, and cinema. His films offer not just political resistance but spiritual salvation, reminding viewers of Palestine’s cultural soul. The documentary, described as a pilgrimage, demands to be watched wholly for its emotional and historical impact.
1. Why does the doctrine of power set by neo-imperial America deny space to counselling?
Answer:
The doctrine emphasizes military might and pre-emptive strikes over diplomatic negotiation. America justifies unilateral action for its own security, rejecting wise counsel and global consensus, as demonstrated in its actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
2. What is the essence of ‘moral equivalence’ whereas War has no moral justification?
Answer:
‘Moral equivalence’ refers to the flawed comparison between America’s military actions and those of others. The U.S. denies such comparisons, claiming unique moral authority, even though war in any form lacks moral legitimacy due to civilian harm and destruction.
3. Why do countries occupied and under the tutelage of hyperpower have no peace?
Answer:
These countries, like Afghanistan and Iraq, suffer due to imposed military solutions and governance that ignore local realities. U.S. actions often destabilize rather than rebuild, as power is transferred to warlords or puppet regimes, worsening security and public trust.
4. Arguably Europe and hyperpower US are at cross purposes over the concept of war. Are they? Why?
Answer:
Yes, Europe favors multilateral diplomacy and legal frameworks, while the U.S. prefers unilateral, militarized approaches. This divergence is evident in reactions to the Iraq war, where European nations opposed U.S. aggression lacking UN approval.
5. What Tony Blair’s meant by ‘wise counsel’, and did it prevail?
Answer:
Tony Blair advocated for rational dialogue and global cooperation in dealing with hyperpower. However, it did not prevail, as America dismissed such advice and chose force, ignoring international protests and undermining Blair’s position.
✅ Q.4: Correct any FIVE of the following sentences
- They were lieing in the sun.
✅ They were lying in the sun. - He will not come without he is asked.
✅ He will not come unless he is asked. - John as well as Harry bear witness to it.
✅ John, as well as Harry, bears witness to it. - The crew was now on board and they soon busied themselves in preparing to meet the coming storm.
✅ The crew were now on board, and they soon busied themselves in preparing to meet the coming storm. - Could I have piece of please?
✅ Could I have a piece, please?
✅ Q.5 (a): Punctuate the passage properly
Corrected Passage:
That familiarity produces neglect has been long observed. The effect of all external objects, however great or splendid, ceases with their novelty. The courtier stands without emotion in the royal presence. The music tramples under his foot. The beauties of the spring, with little attention to their fragrance, and the inhabitant of the coast, darts his eye upon the immense diffusion of waters without awe, wonder, or terror.
✅ Q.5 (b): Prepositions – Fill in the blanks (any five)
- The knavish wolf was able to convince the pig to let him into his home.
- I looked this word up in the dictionary, but I still don’t understand it.
- I need to learn these verbs by heart by
- The morgue is redolent with the odor of deceased individuals.
He is cogitating upon some means of revenge
✅ Q.6: Use any FIVE pairs of words in sentences clearly illustrating their meanings
i) Gibe / Jibe
- He made a rude gibe at her pronunciation.
- His explanation didn’t jibe with the facts.
(ii) Epigram / Epigraph
- Oscar Wilde’s witty epigrams are widely quoted.
- The book began with an epigraph from Shakespeare.
(iii) Brawl / Bawl
- A loud brawl broke out at the match.
- The child began to bawl when he lost his toy.
(iv) Crib / Crypt
- The baby slept soundly in the crib.
- The monk’s remains were buried in a crypt beneath the chapel.
(v) Monogamous / Monogeneous
- Swans are known for being monogamous, mating for life.
- A monogeneous species arises from a single ancestor.
The utilitarian West was shaken by the selfless act of a poor man who broke all conventional norms of trade and reciprocity. Syed Ahmad Khan had already distanced himself from worldly leadership and had chosen a path of seclusion. He dedicated himself to the service of humanity and the pursuit of knowledge. The noble and radiant soul of Sir Syed shone brightly in such a manner that he rejected any personal reward for his efforts.
When Lord Mayo visited Agra in 1869, he learned about Syed Ahmad Khan’s noble work. On this occasion, the British government intended to honor him with a grand gesture. However, Syed Ahmad Khan humbly declined the robe of honor, stating that he did not work for titles or rewards but for the welfare of his people. In return, Lord Mayo sent him a gift of books, which Sir Syed Ahmad Khan graciously accepted, presenting them with immense respect and pride as a token of true scholarly recognition.