STD- XII 1.2 On Saying Please

On saying please

Activities with Expected answers

Extract No. 06 

Page no. 18/19 

  [ Lines,” I have missed……………to the mind”]

Read the first activity, read the extract and do all the activities that follow:

A1. Summarise :                  ( 02)

Select two most appropriate sentences that summarise the extract.

a) Civility cannot be enforced by law.

b) Polite behaviour can be a better revenge in day to day life.

c) The extract deals with the humorous incidents in public.

d) Post war situations are mentioned in the extract.

I have missed him from my bus route of late; but I hope that only means that he has carried his Sunshine on to another road. It cannot be too widely diffused in a rather drab world. And I make no apologies for writing a panegyric on an unknown bus conductor. If Wordsworth could gather  Lessons of wisdom from the poor leech gatherer ‘on the lonely moor,’ I see no reason why lesser  people should not take lessons in conduct from one who shows how a very modest calling may be dignified by good temper and kindly feeling. 

It is a matter of general agreement that he war has had a chilling effects upon those little every day civilities of behaviour that sweeten the general air We must get those civilities back if we are to make life kindly and tolerable for each other. We cannot get them back by invoking the law. The policeman is a necessary symbol and the law is a  necessary institution for a society that is still somewhat lower than the angels. But the law can only protect us against material attack. Nor will the lift man’s way of meeting moral affront by physical violence help us to restore the civilities. I suggest to him, that he would have had a more subtle and effective revenge if he had treated the gentleman who would not say ‘Please’ with elaborate politeness. He would have had the victory, not only over the boor, but over himself, and that is the victory that counts. The polite man may lose the material advantage, but he always has the spiritual victory. I commend to the lift-man a story of Chesterfield. In his time the London streets were without the pavements of today and the man who ‘took the wall’ had the driest footing. ‘I never give the wall to a scoundrel,’ said a man who met Chesterfield one day in the street. ‘I always do’, said Chesterfield, Stepping  with a bow into the road. I hope the lift man will agree that his revenge was much sweeter than if he  had flung the fellow into the mud.

A2. Give reasons :                     (02)

According to the Narrator the victory over himself is more important in the case of the lift man Because…………………….

A3. Interpret :                     (02)

Interpret the statement,” Restoring the civilities is very effective than imposing law.”

A4. Personal Response :            (02)

“Manners maketh man,” Elaborate the idea in your own words in about fifty words.

A5. Language study :             (02)

i) We must get these civilities back.

(Replace the Modal auxiliary by another showing,” Advice/suggestion”)

We should get these civilities back.

ii) We cannot get them back by invoking the law.

(Rewrite the sentence using,” be able to”)

We are not able to/are unable to get them back by invoking the law.

iii) The polite man may lose the material advantage, but he always has the spiritual Victory.

( Rewrite using ,” Though/Although….”)

Though/ Although The polite man may lose the material advantage he always has the Spiritual  victory.

A6 Vocabulary:.                            (02)

Find out words from the extract which mean the following.

a) To spread =     diffused               

b) Dull or not attractive = drab

c) Very clever = subtle

d) praised or appreciated= commend. 

 Extract No. 05

Activities with expected answers

Page no 16/17   [ Lines,” A few days……………sound investment”]

Read the first activity, read the extract and do all the activities that follow:

A1. True or false :                    (2)

i) The writer’s toe was crushed under the feet of a traveller in train.  (F)

ii) The polite manner of the traveller made the writer feel comfortable. (T)

iii) The writer always used to follow him due to his courteous behaviour. (T)

iv) The writer believed that the journey with the person was a lesson of discourtesy. (F)

A few days after, my most sensitive toe was trampled on rather heavily as I sat reading on the top of a bus. I looked up with some anger and more agony, and saw my friend of the cheerful countenance. ‘Sorry, sir’, he said. ‘I know these are heavy boots. Got’em because  my own feet get trod on so much, and now I’m treading on other people’s. Hope I didn’t hurt you, sir,’ He had hurt me but he was so nice about it that I assured him he hadn’t. After this I began to observe him whenever I boarded his bus, and found a curious pleasure in the constant good nature of his bearing. He seemed to have an inexhaustible fund of patience and a gift for making his passengers comfortable. I noticed that if it was raining he would run up the stairs to give someone the tip that there was ‘room inside’. With old people he was as considerate as a son, and with children as solicitous as a father. He had evidently a peculiarly warm place in his heart for young people, and always indulged in some merry jest with them. If he had a blind man on board it wasn’t enough to set him down safely on the pavement. He would call to Bill in front to wait while he took him across the road or round the corner or otherwise safely on his way. In short, I found that he irradiated such an atmosphere of good temper and kindliness that a journey with him was a lesson in natural courtesy and good manners.

What struck me particularly was the ease with which he got through his work. If bad manners are infectious, so also are good manners. If we encounter incivility most of us are apt to become uncivil, but it is an unusually uncouth person who can be disagreeable with sunny people. It is with manners as with the weather. ‘Nothing clears up my spirits like a fine day’, said Keats, and a cheerful person descends on even the gloomiest of us with something of the benediction of a fine day. And so it was always fine weather on the polite conductor’s bus, and his own civility, his conciliatory address and good humoured bearing infected his passengers. In lightening their spirits he lightened his own task. His gaiety was not a wasteful luxury, but a sound investment.

A2. Find out :                   (02)

Find out the expressions that create a sense of humour in the extract.

He said. ‘I know these are heavy boots. Got’em because my own feet get trod on so much, and now I’m treading on other people’s. Hope I didn’t hurt you, sir,’ He had hurt me but he was so nice about it that I assured him he hadn’t.

A3. Complete :                  (02)

Complete the table by writing down situations and behaviour of the person in various Situations.

No situations.                     behaviour

1 . Writers toe was crushed down under feet(s)

The traveller behaved very politely and apologised.(b)

2  On the staircases(s)

The man used to run on staircases and give them tip that there is Room inside (b)

3  With old people(s)

He was as considerate as a son(b)

4  With children(S)

He was as solicitous as a father (b)

5  With young people (S)

He used to behave warmly always indulged in some merry jest.(b)

6 With blind people (s)

Take care to help them cross the road safely.(b)

A4. Personal Response :            (02)

“ Good manners are infectious,” do you agree with the views expressed by the writer .  Justify your answer with suitable examples.

A5. Language study :.          (02)

i) He had hurt me but he was so nice about it.

(Rewrite the sentence beginning with,” Though…”)

Though he had hurt me he was so nice about it.

ii) He would run up the stairs.

(Rewrite the sentence using “used to”)

He used to run up the stairs

A6. Vocabulary :                   ( 02)

Find out words from the extract which mean the following.

a) Expression = countenance

b) Put down = treading

c) Caring and loving = solicitous 

d) Involved in = indulged in

Extract No. 04

Activities with expected answers

Page no. 16/17   [ Lines, “It is ……………given me.”]

Read the first activity, read the extract and do all the activities that follow:

A1. Rearrange :                            (02)

Following sentences are jumbled up rearrange them as per their occurrence in the extract.

a) The account was settled by the narrator

b) The narrator found a shilling in the corner of his pocket.

c) The narrator had left home without money.

d) The narrator told the conductor honestly that he did not have a penny

(Correct order is ....... c),  d),  b),  a) )

It is not, therefore, with any feeling of unfriendliness to conductors as a class that I pay a tribute to a particular member of that class. I first became conscious of his existence one day when I jumped on to a bus and found that I had left home without any money in my pocket. Everyone has had the experience and knows the feeling, the mixed feeling, which the discovery arouses. You are annoyed because you look like a fool at the best and like a knave at the worst. You would not be at all surprised if the conductor eyed you coldly as much as to say, ‘Yes I know that stale old trick. Now then, off you get.’ And even if the conductor is a good fellow and lets you down easily, you are faced with the necessity of going back and the inconvenience, perhaps, of missing your train or your engagement.

Having searched my pockets in vain for stray coppers, and having found I was utterly penniless, I told the conductor with as honest a face as I could assume that I couldn’t pay the fare, and must go back for money. ‘Oh, you needn’t get off: that’s all right’, said he. ‘All right’, said I, ‘but I haven’t a copper on me.’ ‘Oh I’ll book you through, he replied. ‘Where d’ye want to go ?’ and he handled his bundle of tickets with the air of a man who was prepared to give me a ticket for anywhere from the Bank to Hong Kong. I said it was very kind of him, and told him where I wanted to go, and as he gave me the ticket I said, ‘But where shall I send the fare?’ ‘Oh, you’ll see me some day all right’, he said cheerfully, as he turned to go. And then, luckily, my fingers, still wandering in the corners of my pockets lighted on a shilling and the account was squared. But that fact did not lessen the glow of pleasure which so good-natured an action had given me.

A2. Describe :                    (02)

Describe the feelings of the narrator when he realised that he was travelling without money.

There was a mixed and awkward feeling. The writer felt angry as he looked like a fool. He thought

The conductor would humiliate him by saying that it was an old trick of the ticketless passenger.

A3. Find out and give reasons :(02)

“I pay tribute to a particular member of that class. Find out which particular member of class the writer is talking about with reasons.

The writer is talking about the conductor of the bus. Despite of the fact that the writer was travelling without money the conductor did not shout at him and didn’t twll the writer to get down from the bus. He was very polite with the writer and handled the situation very calmly and quietly.

A4. Personal Response :            (02)

Do you have similar kind of experience like the narrator had as mentioned in the extract.

A5. Language study :.                 (02)

i) I pay tribute to a particular member of that class.

(Rewrite using,” Present perfect continuous Tense”)

I have been paying tribute to a particular member of that class.

ii) I couldn’t pay the fare.  ( Use, “be able to”)

I was not able to pay the fare. OR I was unable to pay the fare.

iii) It was very kind of him.  (Make it Exclamatory)

How kind it was of him!

iv) He gave me the ticket.

( Frame a ,”wh- question” to get the underlined part as an answer)

What did he give me?

v) I said,” But where shall I send the fare?” (Rewrite in Reported speech)

I asked/inquired but where I would send the fare.

A6. Vocabulary :                    (02)                    

Find Antonyms of the following words from the extract.

a) Friendly x Unfriendly

b) unconscious   x conscious

c) Convenience x Inconvenience

d) unlucky x lucky

Extract No. 03

Activities with expected answers

Page no. 15/16   [ Lines, “ But Though ……………service”]

Read the first activity, read the extract and do all the activities that follow:

A1. True or False :                      (02)

State whether the following statements are True or False.

a) Being civil is utmost important. (T)

b) We should acknowledge a service.  (T)

c) Commands can be used in day to day life to deal with people.  (F)

d) Courtesies help the machine of life to run sweetly.  (T)

But though we are bound to endorse the verdict against the lift-man most people will have certain sympathy with him. While it is true that there is no law that compels us to say ‘Please’, there is a social practice much older and much more sacred than any law which enjoins us to be civil. And the first requirement of civility is that we should acknowledge a service. ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ are the small change with which we pay our way as social beings. They are the little courtesies by which we keep the machine of life oiled and running sweetly. They put our intercourse upon the basis of a friendly cooperation an easy give and take, instead of on the basis of superiors dictating to inferiors. It is a very vulgar mind that would wish to command where he can have the service for asking, and have it with willingness and good feeling instead of resentment.

I should like to ‘feature’ in this connection my friend, the polite conductor. By this discriminating title, I do not intend to suggest a rebuke to conductors generally. On the contrary, I am disposed to think that there are few classes of men who come through the ordeal of a very trying calling better than bus conductors do. Here and there you will meet an unpleasant specimen who regards the passengers as his natural enemies - as creatures whose chief purpose  on the bus is to cheat him, and who can only be kept reasonably honest by a  loud voice and an aggressive manner.  But this type is rare - rarer than it used to be. I fancy the public owes much to the Underground Railway Company, which also runs the buses, for insisting on a certain standard of civility in its servants and taking care that that standard is observed. In doing this it not only makes things pleasant for the travelling public, but performs an important social service.

A2. Describe :                      (02)

Describe the impact of good temper and kindliness on the society in the light of the good-mannered conductor.

The conductor in this extract is very polite with the narrator …………….

A2. Explain :                      (02)

Explain what can be the basis of our day to day communication.

Friendly cooperation an easy give and take, instead of on the basis of superiors dictating to inferiors. It is a very vulgar mind that would wish to command where he can have the service for asking, and have it with willingness and good feeling instead of resentment.

A4. Personal Response :              (02)

How far do you agree with the statement of the writer that,” The first requirement of civility Is that we should acknowledge a service.”

A5. Language study                      (02)

i) Though we are bound to endorse the verdict against the lift-man most people will have certain sympathy with him.

(Rewrite the sentence using” but’ conjunction)

We are bound to endorse the verdict against the lift-man but most people will have certain Sympathy with him.

ii) We should acknowledge a service.

(Replace the modal by another showing ,”obligation / Compulsion)

We must/ought to acknowledge a service.

iii) It is a very vulgar mind that would wish to command.

(Make it Exclamatory)

What a vulgar mind it is that would wish to command!

iv) You will meet an unpleasant specimen.

(Make it less definite)

You may/might meet an unpleasant specimen.

A6. Vocabulary :                            (02)

Find out words from the extract which mean the following.

a) Communication or conversation = intercourse

b) Suffering = ordeal

c) Anger = Resentment

d) To speak angrily = Rebuke

On Saying Please

Extract No 02 

Activities with Expected answers

Page no. 15   [ Lines, “This does not………..moods and manners”]

Read the first activity, read the extract and do all the activities that follow:

A1. True or False :                  (02)

i) It is more painful if someone hurts our self-respect. (T)

ii) Bad manners can cause much damage which irreparable. (T)

iii) Law can control our private manners. (F)

iv) Court could control our social manners and moods. (F)

This does not mean that the damages are negligible. It is probable that the lift-man was much more acutely hurt by what he regarded as a slur upon his social standing than he would have been if he had a kick on the shins, for which he could have got a legal redress. The pain of a kick on the shins soon passes away but the pain of a wound to our self-respect or our vanity may poison a whole day. I can imagine that lift-man, denied the relief of throwing the author  of his wound out of the lift, brooding over the insult by the hour, and visiting it on his wife in the evening as the only way of restoring his equilibrium. For there are few things more catching than bad temper and bad manners. When Sir Anthony Absolute bullied Captain Absolute, the latter went out and bullied his man, Fag, whereupon Fag went out downstairs and kicked the page-boy. Probably the man who said ‘Top’ to the lift man was really only getting back on his employer who had not said ‘Good morning’ to him because he himself had been henpecked at breakfast by his wife, to whom the cook had been insolent because the housemaid had ‘answered her back’. We infect the world with our ill humours. Bad manners probably do more to poison the stream of the general life than all the crimes in the calendar. For one wife who gets a black eye from an otherwise good natured husband there are a hundred who live a life of martyrdom under the shadow of a morose temper. But all the same the law cannot become the guardian of our private manners. No Decalogue could cover the vast area of offences and no court could administer a law which governed our social civilities, our speech, the tilt of our eyebrows and all our moods and manners.

A2. Explain :                  (02)

The pain of a kick on the shins soon passes away but the pain of a wound to our self-respect or our vanity may poison a whole day.

The statement is self-explanatory. The writer wants to convey that physical assault can heal with Passage of time but an injury to our self-respect cannot be healed easily. It may poison our day or Life because it is an insult or humiliation.

A3. Give Reasons :                 (02)

it is not possible for the law to become the guardian of our private manners ……….

Law is reasonable and clear. It can guide us in our daily life. Discourtesy is not a legal offence.

Social mannerisms, etiquettes, politeness are expected nobilities and courtesies. We  cannot compel somebody to say Thank you and please every now and then.

A4. Personal Response :           (02)

“Courtesy costs nothing but pays everything,” Do you agree with this saying. Justify your  answer with suitable examples.

A5. Language study :.             (02)

i) We infect the world with our ill-humours.

(Rewrite the sentence beginning with,” The world…….”)

The world is infected by us with our ill-humours.

ii) The law cannot become the guardian of our private manners.

(Frame a Rhetorical question)

Can the law become the guardian of our private manners?

iii) No Decalogue could cover the vast area.  (Make it affirmative)

Decalogue could not cover the vast area.

A6. Vocabulary :                   (02)

Find out words from the extract which mean.

a) Remedy = Redress 

b) to support a decision publicly= Endorse

c) Bad name or Reputation = Black eye

d) A man who is controlled by his wife=henpecked.

1.2 On Saying ‘Please’

On Saying "Please" is really worth reading to bring a change in our social behaviour. Here, one can enjoy the writer's meticulous  selection of vocabulary  and complex structures. It sets a challenge  in front of the readers to find contextual references of the words and phrases.

Title: The title ‘On Saying ‘Please’ gives us a hint that the topic is related to manners. We should know the importance of saying ‘ please’ to others. Good manners make us a socially accpeted person. It makes healthy relationship between individuals.

New words:-

Undoubtedly - known for certain to be so

Discourtesy - not polite, rudeness

assault and battery - an attack which includes not only threats but the actual use of violence

burglar - thief who breaks into houses shops etc with the intention of stealing

retaliate - to do something bad to someone who has done something bad to you

assailant - an attacker

legislate - to make a law or laws

violence - action or feeling that causes damage, unrest etc

to box - to fight with the fists (closed hands)

haughty - a high opinion of oneself and often a low position of others

boorish - rude, uncultured

laceration - hurt feelings

slur - a cause of blame

redress - remedy, set right

vanity - pride

brooding over - spend time thinking anxiously or sadly about something

equilibrium - balance (of the mind, emotions)

bullied - threatened

insolent - very rude

henpecked –a husband who always does what his wife tells him to do

black eye – dark coloured skin around somebody’s eye ehere he or she has been hit

endorse - official agreement to the decision

martyrdom - the death or suffering of a martyr

morose - unhappy, very sad and ill tempered

Decalogue - the Ten Commandments

Verdict - judgement

intercourse - communication, conversation

resentment - anger

ordeal - difficult or painful experience

knave - a dishonest person

cheerfully - happily

squared - having no doubt, settled

countenance - a person’s face or expression

treading - pressing down something with foot

assured - confident

inexhaulstible - unlimited ,can never be finished

solicitious - caring or concerned, giving helpful care

irradiated - (here) spread or produced

uncouth - impolite, unrefined

benediction - a blessing

conciliatory - trying to win friendly feelings

panegyric - a speech or piece of writing praising someone highly

moral affront – insult, disrespect

boor - a rude insensitive person

Ice Breakers

1) List the words of courtesy that we use in our daily life. Explain the purpose of using each.

Answer:

Words and purpose:-

1) Thank you – To express gratitude

2) Excuse me – To take permission to go ahead or to ask something

3) Pardon me – To ask to repeat the words

4) May I – To take permission

5) Yes / No sir – To agree or disagree with respect - man

6) Yes / No madam - To agree or disagree with respect - woman

7) You are welcome – To accept the expression of gratitude

8) Mention not – Reply to thank you, need not to say thank you.

9) I am sorry – To tell someone that you are ashamed for hurting them, to say disagree, to oppose other’s view politely

10) My pleasure- To tell you are happy to help or do favour

2) Listed below are a few character traits of people. Some are positive traits, while others are not. Write the ones you feel are desirable or not desirable.

Answer:-

Characteristic traits	Desirable
Conniving	Desirable
Insensitive	Not Desirable
Sly	Not Desirable
Humorous	Desirable
Naïve	Desirable
Benevolent	Desirable
Aggressive	Not Desirable
Scheming	Not Desirable
Wise	Desirable
Egoistic	Not Desirable
Manipulative	Not Desirable
Rude	Not Desirable
Boastful	Not Desirable
Humble	Desirable
Servile	Not Desirable
Territorial	Not Desirable
Patronising	Desirable
Generous	Desirable

3) Etiquette and manners are very important for a person to live in the society. Read the following and write if it is appropriate or inappropriate.

1.To receive phone calls while you are in a lecture or class.

Ans: Inappropriate

2.To knock before you enter your Principal’s office.

Ans: Appropriate

3.To thank the person who offers you tea or coffee.

Ans: Appropriate

4.To be polite and courteous to others.

Ans: Appropriate

5.To leave the classroom without the teacher’s permission.

Ans: Inappropriate

6.To occupy the seats reserved for ladies or physically challenged or elderly people on a bus or a train.

Ans: Inappropriate

About the writer:

Alfred George Gardiner was an English journalist, editor and author. His essays, written under the alias "Alpha of the Plough", are highly regarded. He started his literary career as a journalist. At age of 37, he was appointed editor of the Daily News. He made regular contributions to the Daily News, The Manchester Evening News etc. His essays are uniformly elegant, graceful and humorous. ‘The Pillars of Society’, ‘Pebbles on the Shore’, ‘Many Furrows and Leaves in the Wind’ are some of his best known writings. His uniqueness lies in his ability to teach the basic truths of life in an easy and amusing manner. He rai the question of morality in everyday life.

Brainstorming

A4)

(i) Edit the given paragraph using a/an/the wherever necessary.

Rakesh is a/an ideal son who remains devoted to his father as he grows professionally to become a/the famous doctor. As his father grows old, he takes care to spend time with his father, bringing him tea in a/the morning and taking him out for a/the walk in an/the evening.

Answer:

Rakesh is an ideal son who remains devoted to his father as he grows professionally to become a famous doctor. As his father grows old, he takes care to spend time with his father, bringing him tea in the morning and taking him out for a walk in the evening.

ii) Spot the errors in each of the following sentences and correct the incorrect ones.

(a) Radha brought pens and distributed them between her five children.

Ans- Radha brought pens and distributed them among her five children.

(b) Jayshree and Sujata sat besides each other in complete silence.

Ans-Jayshree and Sujata sat beside each other in complete silence.

(c) His best friend Vijay was blind within one eye.

Ans-His best friend Vijay was blind with one eye.

(d) One could dare to encroach on his rights.

Ans-One could dare to encroach upon his rights.

(e) She was taken with surprise when she saw the famous Taj Mahal.

Ans-She was taken by in surprise when she saw the famous Taj Mahal.

(f) It is not possible to exchange the goods once the sale has been completed.

Ans-It is not possible to exchange the goods after the sale has been completed.

(g) Dr. Sengupta has been trying to master the craft for the last five years.

Ans-Dr. Sengupta has been trying to master the craft since the last five years.

(h) The top-ranking candidates will be appointed in senior jobs in banks.

Ans-The top-ranking candidates will be appointed to senior jobs in banks.

(i) She knows very well what is expected from her but she is unable to perform.

Ans-She knows very well what is expected of her but she is unable to perform.

(j) They will put on a note in this regard for your consideration.

Ans-They will put up a note in this regard for your consideration.

Activity Sheet:

Q. Read the extract and complete the activities given below.(12)

The young lift-man in a City office who threw a passenger out of his lift the other morning and was fined for the offence was undoubtedly in the wrong. It was a question of 'Please'. The complainant entering the lift; said,'Top'. The lift-man demanded 'Top-please' and this concession being refused he not only declined to comply with the instruction, but hurled the passenger out of the lift. This, of course was carrying a comment on manner too far. Discourtesy is not a legal offence, and it does not excuse assault and battery. If a burglar breaks into my house and I knock him down, the law will acquit me, and if I am physically assaulted, it will permit me to retaliate with reasonable violence. It does this because the burglar and my assailant have broken quite definite commands of the law, but no legal system could attempt to legislate against bad manners, or could sanction the use of violence against something which it does not itself recognize as a legally punishable offence. And whatever our sympathy with the lift-man, we must admit that the law is reasonable. It would never do if we were at liberty to box people's ears because we did not like their behaviour, or the tone of their voices, or the scowl on their faces. Our fists would never be idle, and the gutters of the City would run with blood all day.

A1.True or False (2)

Rewrite and state whether the following sentences are true or false.

i)The writer favours the step taken by the lift-man.

ii) Discourtesy is hardly a legal offence.

iii) According to the writer, the law is not irreasonable.

iv)The passanger said Top-please to the lift-man.

A2. Describe (2)

Describe the incident in the lift in about 50 words.

A3. Locate (2)

Locate the lines which prove the following statement.

“The law acquits any reasonable retaliation in self defence.”

A4. Personal Response (2)

Write any four polite expressions you use in your day-to-day life.

A5. Do as directed (2)  
                                                                                                                       

i) We did not like their behaviour.        

     (Make it affirmative)

ii) I knock him down.

    (Change the Voice)

A6. Vocabulary (2)

Fill in  the blanks with appropriate words given in the bracket and rewrite the sentences.

          (reasonable, attempt, concession, sympathy)

i) He had taken a very ----------- to get success.

ii) It was a -------------- measure to support the decision.

iii) A man without -----------in heart is like a stone.

iv) The students’ applied for the ------------ in the fees.