LESSON 4: A PRESIDENT SPEAKS
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. What do we expect from railways and airlines?
Ans: We expect them to provide clean bathrooms and the best food.
2. What is India’s position in respect of the production of wheat and rice?
Ans: India stands second in respect of the production of wheat and rice.
3. How do we behave while in Singapore?
Ans: While we are in Singapore, we don’t litter on the roads or eat in the stores. We behave there in a very civilized manner. We become very responsible and law-abiding. We are at our international best in foreign lands.
4. What did the ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay (Mumbai) tell Kalam?
Ans: He told Kalam that rich people’s dogs are walked on the streets to leave their droppings all over the place, and the same people criticize the authorities for dirty pavements.
5. Why does Kalam want India to be a strong military and economic power?
Ans: Kalam wants India to be a strong military and economic power as he believes that only strength respects strength.
6. What has every dog owner in America and Japan to do?
Ans: The dog owner has to clean up the droppings of the dog.
7. What is India’s position regarding milk production and remote sensing satellites in the world?
Ans: India is number one in terms of milk production and selling remote sensing satellites.
8. What is our attitude towards burning social issues?
Ans: We make loud protests but continue to do the reverse. We find excuses. We blame the system.
9. Who have come and invaded India in 3000 years of history?
Ans: They were the Turks, the Moguls, the Portuguese, the British, the French, and the Dutch who have come and invaded India.
10. How do we behave while in Dubai?
Ans: We would follow all the social customs. We would not eat in public in Ramadan and do not go out without covering our heads in Jeddah.
11. When, according to Kalam, did India get its first vision of freedom?
Ans: India got its first vision of freedom in the revolt of 1857.
12. What is Kalam’s second vision for India?
Ans: Kalam’s second vision for India is development.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. What does Kalam say about our behavior in a foreign country?
Ans: Kalam says that we behave well in foreign countries. We obey laws. We respect social traditions. We do not litter on roads and do not eat in stores. We behave like responsible citizens. We do our duties and do not find excuses. We follow all the rules and regulations. But here in India, we do the reverse.
2. Write in brief the idea conveyed in the lesson.
Ans: This lesson tells about the vision of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam for India. Kalam’s vision for India is ‘freedom’ and ‘development’. India must stand up to the world. President Kalam conveys the message of sincerity, responsibility, and sensibility towards our nation. He tells us to be sincere and honest in all walks of life. The main idea is to motivate Indians to be law-abiding and civilized citizens. We should begin with ourselves what we expect from others.
3. What is Kalam’s vision for India?
Ans: Kalam’s vision for India is ‘freedom’ and ‘development’. He wants India to be strong economically. He wants India to be a military power. He believes that only strength respects strength. So India must stand up to the world. Thus, his vision for India is independence in a real sense.
4. Write a note on ‘Social Responsibility’.
Ans: ‘Social Responsibility’ reminds us of our responsibility and duty as a single unit of the system, called society. Our individual responsibility towards the society in which we live can never be avoided without repercussions. To bring harmony and to build a healthy society, law and order must be maintained. Hence, it becomes our moral duty to contribute positively. We should be law-abiding and disciplined. We must realize the importance of a peaceful society. If it gets hampered, there will be chaos in society. We shouldn’t blame the government or the system for all the fallouts. Rather, we should perform our duties toward the system because we are also a part of it. We should promote our domestic trade instead of preferring foreign goods. In this way, we should always keep promoting national strength and solidarity.
5. What does Kalam say about our behavior in our own country?
Ans: In our country, we behave irresponsibly. We litter on the roads. We disobey the laws. We do not do our duty sincerely. On the contrary, we blame authorities. We find excuses. We do not realize that we are a part of the system and we cannot reform the system until we start with ourselves.
LESSON 5: THE EARTH IS NOT OURS
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1: What is the best way to prevent conflicts?
**Ans.** The best way is to promote a political arrangement where all groups are fairly represented and given equal human rights.
Q2: What fundamental freedoms does the author talk about?
**Ans.** Freedom from poverty, freedom from fear of wars, and freedom of future generations to survive on the Earth.
Q3: What is the overarching challenge of our times?
**Ans.** To make globalisation mean more than bigger markets and learn to govern better.
Q4: Where do most conflicts happen and why?
**Ans.** Most conflicts happen in poor countries that are badly governed and have unfair distribution of power and wealth.
Q5: What is the meaning of Globalisation?
**Ans.** It means close interaction between different countries, improved communication, and exchange of technologies.
Q6: How is the third fundamental freedom threatened?
**Ans.** It is threatened by deforestation, unsustainable practices of polluting the environment, and overconsumption of non-renewable resources.
Q7: What are the dangers of Globalisation?
**Ans.** Dangers are crime, narcotics, terrorism, disease, weapons, etc.
Q8: What is the third fundamental freedom?
**Ans.** It is the freedom of future generations to sustain their lives on the Earth.
Q9: Why can’t we say that human beings are not yet free and equal?
**Ans.** They are not free and equal due to unfair distribution of power and wealth. Billions of people still suffer from hunger and fear of wars.
Q10: What does the author say about the internal wars?
**Ans.** In the last decade, internal wars have killed more than 5 million people and have rendered many more homeless.
Q11: What is the old African wisdom that the author refers to?
**Ans.** According to the old African wisdom, the Earth is a treasure that we hold in trust for our future generations.
Q12: What are the benefits of Globalisation?
**Ans.** Faster growth, higher living standards, new opportunities for individuals and nations, better understanding between different countries.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Q1: Explain the significance of the title of the lesson “The Earth is not Ours.”
**Ans.** The title of the lesson refers to an old African saying. It says that the Earth is not anyone’s property. We are only trustees of the Earth. We have no right to pollute it. We should discourage deforestation, extinction of biodiversity, and overconsumption of non-renewable resources. We should remember that the Earth belongs to our future generations. So, it should be wisely preserved for them.
Q2: How does the author explain each of the fundamental freedoms?
**Ans.** Kofi Annan explains fundamental freedoms under three headings—freedom from want, freedom from fear, and freedom of future generations to sustain their life on the Earth. He explains that more than half of the population lives under poverty without safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, worrying about the next meal for their children. Fear of internal wars has claimed more than 5 million lives in the last decade and has rendered many homeless. Third is the fear of deforestation, pollution, and overconsumption of non-renewable resources. All this has posed a great danger to the Earth. It should be protected for future generations as it is not our property. It is a treasure that we hold in trust for our descendants.
Q3: Write a paragraph on “Man and his Environment.”
**Ans.** A healthy, clean environment is very essential for mankind. It is a healthy environment that makes Earth a suitable place for us to live on. But in his greed, Man is mindlessly exploiting all its non-renewable resources. Man is destroying forests, fisheries, and all other living species. Man should remember that extinction of resources will end human race. Man should not forget that the Earth is a treasure that he should preserve for his descendants.
Q4: Why does the author say that new opportunities are not equally distributed?
**Ans.** The new opportunities are not equally distributed because of a huge gap between two classes. On one hand, we have rich people who worry about stock market crashes or their attempts to buy a new computer. On the other hand, more than half of the world’s poor people deal with basic worries like where their children’s next meal is coming from. A billion of them survive on less than one dollar a day. They don’t have safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. This inequality is responsible for unequal distribution of new opportunities offered by globalisation.
Q5: What does the author tell us about Globalisation?
**Ans.** Globalisation is close interaction between different countries of the world. It has many benefits like faster growth, higher living standards. It has given new opportunities to individuals and nations as well. It has many drawbacks. It has led to an increase in crime, drugs, terrorism, diseases, and smuggling of weapons. According to Kofi Annan, globalisation should mean more than bigger markets. It should solve three main global issues to make this world a better place to live.
