Exercise of Education First
Ways with Words
- A messenger or representative, especially one on a diplomatic mission → envoy
- The state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect → dignity
- The harm is done to someone in response to harm → revenge
- A person who holds extreme views in political or religious matters → extremist
- Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others → compassion
- A person who is believed to speak for God → prophet
- The study of the nature of knowledge, reality and existence → philosophy
- The use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage or destroy → violence
- An unreasonable dislike of a particular group of people or things → prejudice
| Word | Opposite Meaning |
|---|---|
| a. honour | iv. disgrace |
| b. innocent | iii. guilty |
| c. brutality | i. kindness |
| d. forgiveness | v. punishment |
| e. illiteracy | ii. literacy |
A dictionary contains at least three primary forms of information about a word. Here is a breakdown:
| Information Type | Description & Purpose |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | Indicates exactly how the word is spoken or articulated, often utilizing phonetic symbols (e.g., /hjuːˈmænəti/). |
| Word Class | Shows the grammatical category the word belongs to, dictating its function in a sentence (e.g., noun, verb, adjective). |
| Meaning | Provides the definition, contextual sense, and proper usage examples of the word. |
Look at the following dictionary entry for the words ‘humanity’ and ‘humanize’ (Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 9th edition):
humanity /hjuːˈmænəti/ noun 1 [U] people in general: He was found guilty of crimes against humanity. 2 [U] the state of being a person rather than a god, an animal or a machine: The story was used to emphasize the humanity of Jesus. united by a sense of common humanity 3 [U] the quality of being kind to people and animals by making sure that they do not suffer more than is necessary; the quality of being humane: The judge was praised for his courage and humanity. OPP inhumanity 4 (the) humanities [pl.] the subjects of study that are about the way people think and behave, for example literature, language, history and philosophy: The college offers a wide range of courses in the arts and humanities.
humanize (BrE also -ise) /ˈhjuːmənaɪz/ verb ~sth to make sth more pleasant or suitable for people; to make sth more HUMANE: These measures are intended to humanize the prison system.
a. Study the dictionary entry above and answer these questions:
- What is the headword in the first entry? → Humanity
- How many meanings of the word ‘humanity’ are given? → 4
- What do the abbreviations U, OPP, pl, and sth stand for? → U = uncountable, OPP = opposite, pl = plural, sth = something
- What is the British English spelling of ‘humanize’? → Humanise
- How is the word ‘humanize’ pronounced? → /ˈhjuːmənaɪz/
- If we say "Every person should have the sense of humanity", which meaning of ‘humanity’ is applied? → The meaning applied is the quality of being kind to people and animals by making sure that they do not suffer more than is necessary; the quality of being humane (दयालु).
b. Arrange the following words in alphabetical order:
- advance analysis amuse assure allergy attain aid anxiety acute agreement
→ acute, advance, agreement, aid, allergy, amuse, analysis, anxiety, assure, attain - smoke small smart speaking smelling smooth smuggler smashed smearing smallpox
→ small, smallpox, smart, smashed, smearing, smelling, smoke, smooth, smuggler, speaking - terminal terminate terminology termite terms terrace terrible terribly territory terror
→ terminal, terminate, terminology, terms, termite, terrace, terrible, terribly, territory, terror
c. Make a list of five new words from the reading text. Using a dictionary, write their meanings and use the words in sentences of your own:
- Envoy: A person who is sent as a representative of a government to another country.
Sentence: The envoy was sent to negotiate a peace treaty. - Dignity: The quality of being worthy of honour or respect.
Sentence: The dignity of the office of the president is being undermined. - Compassion: Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
Sentence: The doctor showed compassion for the sick patient. - Prophet: A person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God.
Sentence: The prophet was sent to the people to teach them about God. - Philosophy: The study of the nature of knowledge, reality and existence.
Sentence: The philosophy of the school is based on the teachings of Plato. - Violence: The use of physical force so as to injure, abuse, damage or destroy.
Sentence: The violence of the storm destroyed the house.
Reading Comprehension
Answer the following questions based on the text:
Why did the speaker receive thousands of good-wishes cards and gifts from all over the world?
The speaker, Malala Yousafzai, played a remarkable role for the betterment of children who are deprived of education and their fundamental rights. She raised her voice for the rights of women and the communities suppressed by the extremist Taliban. So, people from all over the world sent her thousands of well wishes and gifts to encourage and support her.
According to the speaker, what are hundreds of human rights activists and social workers struggling for?
According to the speaker, hundreds of human rights activists and social workers are struggling for achieving their goals of education, peace, and equality.
What has she learnt from Gandhi?
She learnt the profound value of nonviolence from Gandhi.
In what sense is peace necessary for education?
Peace is necessary for education because it is only in a peaceful environment that education can truly flourish. War and conflicts create a hostile, unpredictable environment that physically and psychologically prevents students from going to school.
According to the speaker, what are the main problems faced by both men and women?
According to the speaker, poverty, ignorance, injustice, racism, and the deprivation of basic human rights are the main problems faced by both men and women globally.
What is Malala calling upon all governments?
Malala is calling upon all governments to ensure free compulsory education for all children, to fight against terrorism and violence, and to protect children from brutality and harm.
What is the main message of this speech?
The main message of this speech is that education is the ultimate endeavor to eradicate systemic problems like illiteracy, terrorism, violence, and the harassment of fundamental human rights. Therefore, concerned authorities should prioritize providing free and safe education for all.
Critical Thinking
a. All children have the right to quality education. How can we ensure this right for every child? Discuss the role of the government and the parents to make sure that every child can attend school.
Quality education is crucial for the holistic development of a person and their surrounding community. All children possess the fundamental right to quality education, and none should be held back due to poverty, racism, religious background, or discrimination. As responsible citizens, we can ensure this right is upheld by actively educating both the government and parents about their indispensable roles.
Role of the Government:
- The government must provide free, accessible education to all children and ensure that school environments are safe and secure.
- They should guarantee fair compensation for teachers to keep them highly motivated in providing their essential services.
- The government must equip schools with all necessary facilities, including modern textbooks, stationery, libraries, and technological resources.
- They should regularly update the academic curriculum to ensure students are learning the most relevant and progressive information.
- They must host regular seminars and workshops to continuously train teachers in the latest pedagogical methods and techniques.
Role of the Parents:
- Parents must actively ensure that their children attend school regularly and prioritize their academic development.
- They should maintain open communication with the school to guarantee their children are not being harassed or bullied.
- They must foster a supportive home environment where children are not forced to pursue paths against their will or aptitude.
- They should grant their children the freedom to choose their own career trajectories rather than imposing their own ambitions upon them.
- They must dedicate quality time to listen to their children's academic challenges and emotional concerns.
b. Do you think that there is still discrimination between sons and daughters in terms of providing education in our country? What strategies do you suggest to overcome such discrimination against girls?
Unfortunately, in our country, discrimination between sons and daughters regarding education remains a persistent issue. Many parents still exhibit a strong preference for educating their sons over their daughters. A deeply rooted patriarchal mindset often leads families to view a daughter's education as a "waste" of resources, operating under the archaic assumption that daughters will eventually leave for their husband's home, making dowry or marriage expenses a higher priority than academic investment. This is a highly regressive practice that stifles national progress and must be eradicated.
To systematically overcome this discrimination, we must employ multifaceted strategies. First, the government and local NGOs must launch aggressive awareness campaigns to educate parents that investing in a daughter's education is not a loss, but the most powerful investment in the family's and nation's future. Parents must understand that educated daughters become independent, self-reliant individuals capable of financially supporting themselves and their aging parents, while also becoming more informed mothers and citizens.
We must prominently highlight role models like Malala Yousafzai, Queen Elizabeth I, and successful local women to demonstrate the immense heights women can achieve when granted access to quality education. Furthermore, the government must implement strong policy interventions. Providing financial incentives, such as scholarships, free mid-day meals, and conditional cash transfers exclusively for female students, will actively encourage economically disadvantaged families to keep their daughters in school. By combining ideological awareness with practical financial support, we can dismantle the systemic discrimination against girls in education.
c. A Chinese philosopher Confucius said, “If your plan is for one year, plant rice; if your plan is for ten years, plant trees; if your plan is for one hundred years, educate children.” What is the meaning of this saying? Elaborate on this with examples.
This profound saying by Confucius serves as a powerful metaphor for long-term strategic thinking and sustainable societal development. It emphasizes that the true value of an investment is measured by the longevity and depth of its impact.
The first tier, "If your plan is for one year, plant rice," represents short-term goals. If a society only seeks immediate survival or instant gratification, it focuses on quick returns. Rice is a seasonal crop that yields a harvest within months, satisfying immediate hunger but requiring the exact same labor to be repeated the following year.
The second tier, "if your plan is for ten years, plant trees," represents medium-term, structural investment. Trees require years of patience, nurturing, and protection before they mature. However, once grown, they provide compounding benefits—shade, fruit, timber, oxygen, and ecological stability—for decades. This symbolizes infrastructure and economic development.
The ultimate tier, "if your plan is for one hundred years, educate children," represents generational transformation. While rice feeds a person for a day, and a tree provides resources for a lifetime, education fundamentally alters the trajectory of human civilization. When you educate a child, you equip them with the critical thinking, innovation, and ethical frameworks required to solve future problems. That educated child will then pass those values and knowledge down to their own children, creating an unbroken, compounding chain of progress. Education is the only investment that guarantees the prosperity, peace, and advancement of a nation across centuries.
Grammar
- The man who is wearing glasses is my uncle's friend. → who (Pronoun), wearing (Verb)
- I bought a round table in the supermarket. → round (Adjective), the (Determiner)
- Alas, she is dead. → Alas (Interjection), is (Verb)
- Hari works very hard all the time but his wife is very lazy. → hard (Adverb), but (Conjunction), wife (Noun), very (Adverb)
- I have never been to Japan. → never (Adverb), to (Preposition)
Sample Sentence Analyzed: "The government has decided to increase the number of schools in the country to provide free education."
| Word | Word Class |
|---|---|
| The | Determiner |
| government | Noun |
| has | Verb |
| decided | Verb |
| to | Preposition / Particle |
| increase | Verb |
| the | Determiner |
| number | Noun |
| of | Preposition |
| schools | Noun |
| in | Preposition |
| the | Determiner |
| country | Noun |
| to | Preposition / Particle |
| provide | Verb |
| free | Adjective |
| education | Noun |