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  What I Have Lived For -         Bertrand Russell Summary In "What I Have Lived For," Bertrand Russell explains that three powerful passions guided his entire life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and deep compassion for the suffering of humanity . Russell says he sought love because it brought him great happiness, relieved his loneliness, and gave him a glimpse of the ideal beauty and peace that saints and poets imagined. He also devoted himself to the search for knowledge . He wanted to understand human nature, discover why the stars shine, and explore the mysteries of mathematics and the universe. Although he learned much, he felt there was still more to discover. Despite the joy of love and the excitement of knowledge, Russell was always drawn back to the suffering of others. The pain of starving children, oppressed people, lonely individuals, the elderly, and those living in poverty filled him with deep sympath...

PLUS TWO ENGLISH - REVISION NOTES UNIT 1   The lessons in the unit focus on women empowerment. It deals with the challenges and problems faced by women. The 3Ls of Empowerment ‘The 3Ls of Empowerment’ is a speech by Christine Lagarde. She speaks of the need of empowering women in the 21st century. She asserts that women are capable of contributing to the economic growth of any nation. Learning, labour and leadership are the ‘3 Ls’ of women’s empowerment. Learning is the basis of all change. Education is the foundation upon which any change is built. Learning helps women to help themselves and break the shackles of exclusion. Labour helps women to progress in life. It facilitates them to flourish and achieve their true potential. It gives them economic freedom and brings about a change in their outlook. She calls for equal pay for equal work for man and woman. Leadership helps women to rise and fulfil their abilities and talents. Women are competent but they lack self confid...

Questions And Answers   a. What was the officer’s attitude to Szpilman? The officer was kind, sympathetic, and compassionate towards Szpilman. Instead of harming him, he helped and protected him. b. Why do you think the officer asked Szpilman to play the piano? The officer wanted to confirm that Szpilman was really a pianist and also wished to hear him play music. c. Why was Szpilman hesitant to play the piano? Szpilman had not played the piano for two and a half years. His fingers were stiff, dirty, and trembling with fear. d. How does the officer help Szpilman? The officer provides him with food, finds him a safer hiding place, brings him a warm blanket and eiderdown, and encourages him to survive until the war ends. e. What was the officer ashamed of? He was ashamed of being German because of the cruel and inhuman acts committed by Nazi Germany during the war. f. “Just hang on a few more weeks—the war will be over by spring at the latest.” What is surprising about this...

  Answers to the Questions a. Why does the sight of the old man frighten Pelayo? Pelayo is frightened because he sees a strange old man with enormous wings lying in the mud. The unusual sight shocks and terrifies him. b. Why was the old man unable to get up? The old man could not get up because his enormous wings were tangled in the mud and hindered his movements. c. The couple consider the old man a ‘lonely castaway’. Why? They think he is a castaway because he speaks in an incomprehensible dialect with a sailor-like voice and appears to have been stranded after the storm. d. Why was the neighbour woman sure that the old man was an angel? The neighbour woman believed he was an angel because of his huge wings. She thought he had come to take the sick child to heaven but had been knocked down by the rain. e. Why did Pelayo arm himself with a club? Pelayo armed himself with a club to protect himself and his family because he was unsure whether the old man was dangerous. f....

 HOREGALLU                                                                                                                                                         -  Sudha Murthy Summary  Horegallu is a touching story by Sudha Murty that highlights the importance of kindness, empathy, and listening to others. The narrator recalls her childhood in a village where a large banyan tree stood at the center. Under the tree was a horegallu , a stone bench where tired travellers could rest, drink water, and regain their strength....

  MATCH BOX Summary of Matchbox Matchbox by Ashapurna Devi is a powerful story about the hidden strength of women and the patriarchal society that suppresses them. The story centers on Nomita, a married woman living in a large joint family. One day, while checking her husband Ajit's clothes before giving them to the washerman, she finds a letter from her mother. She realizes that the letter had arrived three days earlier and that Ajit had opened and read it without her knowledge. This is not the first time he has interfered with her personal correspondence. Nomita feels angry and humiliated by his controlling behavior. The letter contains her widowed mother's usual complaints about her hardships and a request for financial help. Ajit often mocks these letters and resents having to support his mother-in-law. When Nomita confronts him about opening her letter, a bitter quarrel breaks out. Ajit insults both Nomita and her mother. Deeply hurt and enraged, Nomita suddenly light...