Tight Corners: Writing Activity

Writing

A) Read the information in the table below and answer the following questions.

1.        What kinds of natural disasters have occurred before 2005?

Earthquake occurred during 2001 in Bhuj, Gujarat. During 2004, a Tsunami wave swept across the coastline of Andhra, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar islands and Pudhucherry.

2.        Name the disasters that are common in India.

Tsunami, Earthquakes, Cyclones, Floods, Flash floods are the disasters common in India.

3.        Mention the states often affected by disasters.

Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh are the states often affected by disasters.

4.        List out the disasters that are common in North India.

Flash floods, floods and cyclones are the disasters that are common in North India.

5.        Write three sentences on your inference about the data given.

i.  Natural disasters such as earthquake, tsunami, floods, cyclone and flash floods occur across various states in India.

ii. In South India, Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh are most affected by Tsunami, cyclone and floods.

iii. In North India, Bihar, Uttarkand and Jharkand are affected by floods and cyclones.

B) Study the pie-chart carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Percentage of people who speak each language as their first language.

Use expressions such as…

Generally….

A majority….

Most of the….

Some of the….

Minority of ….

In conclusion….

1.        Which language is spoken by most people?

Mandarin is spoken by most people.

2.        What are the Indian languages that rank among the top five spoken languages?

Hindi is the only language that ranks among the top five spoken languages.

3.        Which are the languages that are spoken by less than three percent of people?

Hindi, Bengali, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, German and Javanese are the languages that are spoken by less than three percent of people.

4.        With the help of the questions and answers, draw your own conclusions from the pie chart. Then, write a paragraph on the popular spoken languages.

Paragraph :

Generally speaking the chart represents a multilingual country. A Majority of people speak Mandarin. Most of the people speak many different languages. Only very few people speak Japanese, German and Japanese. In conclusion people may find it difficult to understand one another, because so many languages are spoken.

Dialogue writing

Originating from dialogos, the Greek word for conversation, the term dialogue refers to a verbal conversation between two or more people. In a written work, dialogue is one way that a writer can communicate clearly instead of merely reporting. When writing a dialogue, it is important to adhere to specific grammar rules. Conversational English can be a little difficult. While knowing proper sentence structure and correct grammar is extremely important, conversational English is how you will interact with other English speakers.

Read the dialogue between two friends on Pollution and complete the following story board with an interesting conversation.

Friend 1 : Can you get me idlis?

Friend 2 : Oh, certainly. Why don’t you prefer parathas? Friend 1 : No, I have decided to have only healthy items. Friend 2 : That’s superb! If our youngsters decide like this there will be no diseases and life span will be improved.

Friend 1 : Yes, of course. We should spread this awareness among the younger generations.

Friend 2 : Oh! Definitely.

Now read the dialogue between two friends on reading an interesting novel.

Muthu: Hello Avinash, how are you? 

Avinash: I am fine. How about you? 

Muthu: I am fine too. What’s the book that you are reading? It seems you are deeply absorbed in it. 

Avinash: Yes, I have already read the book once. Now, it is my second reading. The book is really very interesting. 

Muthu: Is it? What is the title of the book and who is the author? 

Avinash: It is ‘Treasure Island’ written by the famous novelist R. L. Stevenson. 

Muthu: Yes, I know. I have read his “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” That is also a very interesting novel. It tells the story of a man who lives a dual life. What’s this book about? 

Avinash: The book is about a treasure hunting expedition. The hero is a thirteen–year old boy named Jim Hawkins. 

Muthu: Oh, I see. What makes the book so interesting? 

Avinash: The author keeps the readers spellbound with the twists and turns in the plot. The adventures, brave deeds, and the horrors and terrors of the struggle keep the readers engaged and absorbed. 

Muthu: Excellent! Please lend me the book after you finish reading it. Bye for now. 

Avinash: Sure, I shall give it to you tomorrow. Good bye. See you again. 

Task: It’s your turn!  

Friend 1 : Of course, we find fast food stalls everywhere in the evening and people flock there. 

Friend 2 : Yes, it is a sad state of affairs. In many families both husband and wife go to work and

therefore the wife does not have time to cook at home. They depend upon fast food.

Friend 1 : I suggest we approach the District collector and request him to organize programmes to spread awareness of the harm of fast food.

Friend 2 : We should also visit schools and colleges and explain to the students to difference between homely nutritious food and fast food.

Friend 1 : You are right. We must take all steps to make people aware of the difference between different types of food.

Write conversations on the following situations.

i.               Between  two  friends  about  uses  and

Muthu : Hello Avinash, how are you?

Avinash : I am fine. How about you?

Muthu : I am fine too. What’s the book that you are reading? It seems you are deeply absorbed in it. 

Avinash : Yes, I have already read the book once. Now, it is my second reading. The book really very interesting.

Muthu : Is it? What is the title of the book and who is the author?

Avinash : It is ‘Treasure Island’ written by the famous novelist R. L. Stevenson

Muthu : Yes, I know. I have read his “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” That is also a very interestin novel. IT tells the story of a man who lives a dual life. What’s this book about?

Avinash : The book is about a treasure hunting expedition. The hero is a thirteen-year old bo named Jim Hawkins.

Muthu : Oh, I see. What makes the book so interesting?

Avinash : The author keeps the readers spcllbuund with the TWiStS and turns in the plot. Th adventures, brave deeds, and the horrors and terrors of the struggle keep the reader engaged and absorbed

Muthu : Excellent! Please lend me the book after you finish reading it. Bye for now.

Avinash : Sure, I shall give it to you tomorrow. Good bye. See yon again

ii.               abuses of mobile phone

Ganesh : Hi, Siva, give me your mobile phone, I want to enquire after my grandma’s health. She was hospitalized yesterday.

Siva : Here, take my phone. Your purpose is meaningful. [Siva takes the phone and talks to his father. Father tells him that grandma is improving and that she will be discharged in 2 days]

Ganesh : I am happy that your grandma is improving. So, my mobile phone is very useful.

Siva : Of course. But many youngsters put the mobile phone to a lot of abuse. They play games on the phone, waste their time and also spoil their eyesight.

Ganesh : I know many young boys chat with their girlfriends over the phone and girls chat with their boyfriends. Many of our generation are spoilt by the abuse of mobile phone.

Siva : Finally, it is for each individual to choose the right use of the mobile phone and avoid its abuse.

iii.               Between two friends about planting trees

Rahim : Hai Sam! How are you? Five days since we met last?

Sam : I am fine. You always say something important what now?

Rahim : Oh, yes. You have guessed correctly. Now I will tell you about the planting of trees.

Sam : You need not tell me how important trees are. I know that trees and plants give us oxygen, bring us rain and keep the atmosphere cool. Now tell me about planting of trees. 

Rahim : “A family a Tree”-We know this statement. The government encourages planting of trees. Most school teachers and students plant saplings on school campus and in other places. Every house should plant a sapling. Thus we can make the earth green.

Sam : Thank you, This evening I will go to a nursery, buy a sapling, plant in my compound.

iv.               Between two friends about the importance of reading newspapers

Gopal : Hai, Praveen. How are you?

Praveen : Fine. How are you? Do you know the latest news? Kerala is severely affected by torrential rains.

Gopal : I saw it on TV and I have read the newspapers.

Praveen ; What newspapers do you read?

Gopal : I read the Hindu and the Indian Express.

Praveen : Good. Newspaper reading is very important. They give not only political news, but sports, economics foreign news etc.,

Gopal : We also come across a lot of advertisements. From these ads we come to know about different products — Cars, TV, Fridge, Cosmetics....

Praveen : Unemployed graduates look into the wanted column, you see.

Gopal : Let us conclude that newspaper is helpful in many ways. It builds our vocabulary and promotes our command of English.

v.               Between two friends about the uses of the internet

Mary : Hi! Malathy. We haven’t net for 3 or 4 days.

Malathy : That’s ok. Let’s discuss the uses of the Internet!

Mary : Oh! Internet is wonderful thing. We have the whole world at our fingertips.

Malathy : Last evening, I first typed “NEWTON” un my niubile pliunc net and I got the entire life and achievements of the great scientist.

Mary’ : I typed AUSTRALIA on my laptop and I got the entire history, geographical conditions economic progress and so many other details.

Malathy : In one word the uses of the Internet are endless.

vi.               Between a father and a son on choice of a career

Father : Robert, now you have completed your +2, what do you want to become?

Robert : Daddy, I want to become a doctor.

Father : Oh, good. What are your reasons?

Robert : I have got great regard for teachers and doctors. Teachers shape our minds and doctors take care of our health. I want to serve in villages and help the poor uneducated people.

Father : Very good. I leave it to your choice.

vii.               Between you and a bookseller on buying books

I           : Good morning, Sir! I am Kumar, a College student.

Book seller : I know you very well. You have been visiting our bookshop for 2 to 3 yrs. You always buy books on poets, novelists, dramatists and scientists and social workers.

I           : You are right, I don’t waste time in many Tamil weekly magazines. They give

news only about politics and cine actors.

Book Seller : This time what book do you want?

I           : Please give me a book on Kamarajar our former C.M. and one book on Albert

Schweitzer. They are great men.

Book Seller : That’s right. You can choose the books from the shelves.

I           : Thank you.

viii.               Between two friends on the benefits of early rising

Rahim : Hi, Sundar! What a surprise! fhaven’t seen you for 10 days.

Sundar : I was away in MadUrai for a week with my grandparents.

Rahim : Oh! grand parents, I know they have the habit of “Early to Bed, Early to Rise”

Sundar : You are right. May parents have also follow the idea and I have also been trained to rising early. Rahim : Early morning the mind is fresh. Our body is also active after 8 hrs of sleep.

Sundar : We can do a lot of studying and writing and learn our syllabus very well.

Rahim : I am an early riser.

Sundar : Let’s us teach our younger brothers and sisters the benefits of early rising.

ix.               Between two friends on an exciting cricket match

Yusuf : Hai, Abrar. Did you watch the yesterday T-20 match?

Abrar : Yes, It was thrilling match.

Yusuf i I can’t believe that the Chennai team became a champion.

Abrar : Of course. I also thought that Mumbai team would win the match.

Yusuf : Mmm. How brilliantly the Chennai team’s last player scored 10 runs from 2 balls.

Abrar : Yes. In the last over they played fantastically.

Yusuf : I think the bowler from Mumbai team did not perform well.

Abrar : And also the fielders.

Yusuf : Yes. Yesterday’s match proves us the necessity of confidence and co-operation.

Abrar : Yes, Yusuf.

x.               Between two friends on the importance of punctuality

Shameena: Hi! Lily. Why were you late to school this morning?

Lily : My auto caught in a Traffic jam. We waited for 15 minutes.

Shameena: You were late, only today. Otherwise you are always punctual.

Lily : Yes. My grandfather and my father have taught me the importance of punctuality. My grandfather told me that Gandhiji always arrived at a meeting at the appointed time. Once on his way to a meeting, people stopped the car for greeting him, but he jumped out and ran to the stage and kept punctuality.

Shameena: If we are punctual, we won’t miss any event or teaching in the class. Punctuality is most important to take a bus train or flight, you see punctuality is the most important to take a bus, train or flight, you see.

Lily : That’s fight. Let’s try to be punctual all the time.

xi.               Between two friends on a picnic they enjoyed recently

Jothi : Hi, Lakshmi, how are you?

Lakshmi : Fine. How are you?

Jothi : I have been waiting to tell you about the picnic we had last Sunday.

Lakshmi : Oh good. Tell me.

Jothi : Last Sunday our family went to Mukkombu on a picnic. We reached there by 9 in the morning and left only by 5 in the evening. It is like a sea — vast stretch of water. There are three outlets. We enjoyed the gusting of water with so much of noise and white foam. We enjoyed the cool breeze. There are a lot of trees. We ran about and played. My younger brother and I enjoyed the see-saw and the merry-go-round. We just stood on the riverbank and splashed the water with our feet and hands. Her parents did not allow us to enter the river. Now tell me about your picnic.

Lakshmi : Our family went on a picnic to Thanjavur. It is a wonderful place. We were all stunned by the grandeur of the Big Temple. You know it was built by the Chola king more than 1,000 years ago. Then we visited the royal palace and Sivaganga gardens. We returned home only in the night.

Jothi : Very good. A picnic is good relaxation for the body and the mind.

Lakshmi : I agree. We must go on a picnic now and then and relax.