Sky Burials
This reading delves into the ancient and profound Tibetan practice of Sky Burials, a unique funeral rite where human remains are placed on a mountaintop to be consumed by sacred vultures. The author recounts a personal visit to such a site, navigating the solemnity and the raw, natural process with his family. It explores the Tibetan perception of the body as a mere vessel for the soul, and the act of offering it back to nature as a final gesture of generosity and compassion. The text highlights the cultural significance, the roles of the Rogyapas (body breakers), and the deep spiritual meanings behind this powerful ritual, while also touching upon the author's family's mature reaction to this extraordinary experience.
Understanding
A. Choose the words from the box that match with the given meanings from a - h.
forbidden, fascination, profound, gruesome, frenzy, pulverise, omen, engrossed
| Meaning | Word |
|---|---|
| very great | profound |
| a state of great activity and strong emotion | frenzy |
| very unpleasant and filling with horror | gruesome |
| not allowed | forbidden |
| a sign of what is going to happen in the future | omen |
| very strong attraction | fascination |
| involved in something with whole attention | engrossed |
| to make something into a fine powder | pulverise |
B. Write True for true statements and False for false ones.
Foreign visitors are welcome to see Sky Burial rituals.
False
The visitors are not allowed to take photos of the rituals.
True
The vultures took more than fifteen minutes to finish the entire corpse.
False
The Tibetans perceive the body as a vessel for the soul.
True
The youngest son of the writer was busy with his toys.
False
The author visited the burial sites with his wife and three children.
True
C. Answer the following questions.
Why did the author visit a traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery?
The author visited a traditional Tibetan Buddhist monastery because he heard that he would see strange ritual there.
What did the author see on the hill?
The author saw 100 vultures sitting on the hill.
Why did the author give the iPad to his youngest son?
The author gave the iPad to his youngest son to play computer games.
Describe the appearance of a Rogyapa, the body breaker.
Rogyapa is Lama, a sacred person or the body breaker who has a knife to cut the dead body. He is dressed in dark red scarlet coloured coat with a black hood.
What did the body breaker do after collecting the bones?
After collecting the bones, the body breaker begins to pulverise them with a mallet, and mixed. He mixes that with yak butter and barley flour. In one last gesture, he walks into the middle of the vultures and throws it high in the air.
What is considered to be a bad sign?
If vultures don’t eat or leave the body parts, it is considered to be a bad sign.
Why did the author feel proud?
The writer felt proud because of his children's maturity and intelligence.
Research customs from other countries and talk about an interesting one with your friends.
Grammar I
Match the questions in column A with the answers in column B.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| Are you ready? | v. Yes, nearly. |
| Can I carry something for you? | iv. No, it's OK. It's not that heavy. |
| May I use your phone? | ii. Yes, of course. |
| Has anyone seen my bag? | i. Yes, it's on the chair. |
| Would you like to come to a party? | iii. Yes, I'd love to. |
How do you ask questions in these situations?
- Is it raining?
- Does Harish play football?
- Is the bus on time?
- Did Ramesh go to the market yesterday?
- Is it Tuesday today?
- Did your teacher open your letter?
- Has your brother gone to sleep?
- Will there be a food party?
Circle the correct answer.
Are you busy today?
Yes, I am.
Is it too hot in here for you?
No, it isn't. / No, I'm fine, thanks.
Tell me, did you steal my money?
No, I didn't steal your money.
Can I carry your bags?
It's all right, thanks.
Write yes/no questions for these statements.
- Has the family got three mobile phones?
- Does Januka work at the supermarket?
- Is Anita learning English?
- Will the meeting be held next Tuesday?
- Did Tanka switch off the computer?
- Did he go to the cinema yesterday?
- Is anyone ready?
- Is it raining outside?
- Has Vicky lost her credit card?
- Had she done the work on time?
Surprising Culture
This reading explores various unique and surprising cultural customs from around the globe, highlighting how different societies express themselves through distinct traditions and etiquettes. It delves into intriguing practices such as pointing with lips in Nicaragua, the nuances of tipping culture in the US, the significance of slurping noodles in Japan, and specific greetings like kneeling or prostrating among the Yoruba people of Nigeria. The text emphasizes that these customs, no matter how unusual they may seem to outsiders, are integral to the identity and social fabric of their respective communities, providing a fascinating insight into the diversity of human behavior and social norms.
Understanding
Answer these questions:
Is there any unique custom in your community? What is it?
Yes, there is a unique custom in our community. Juniors bow and keep head on the feet of seniors.
Why is it unique?
It is unique because such kind of tradition is not found in other parts of the world.
A. Find the words from the text that match the following meanings.
| Meaning | Word |
|---|---|
| a natural desire | propensity |
| the rules of correct or polite behaviour in society | etiquette |
| people who work in a bar, serving drinks | bartenders |
| to become twisted | contort |
B. Write True for true and False for false statements.
In Nicaragua, people prefer to point with their thumb.
False
Tipping is compulsory at most restaurants in the US.
True
Contorting is less noisier than slurping.
False
People from the West take noodles by twisting them on a spoon.
True
The Bini and the Kalabari are ethnic groups of Nigeria.
True
C. Answer the following questions.
a. What makes a group of people different from others?
Their culture, language, custom and tradition make themselves different from others.
b. What is the unique tradition of Nicaragua?
The unique tradition of Nicaragua is that they point the things with the lips instead of the thumb like the majority of the world.
c. What is a positive aspect of tipping culture?
The positive aspect of tipping culture is it provides incentive for waiters and waitresses.
d. Why do Japanese make slurping sounds while eating noodles?
Japanese make slurping sounds while eating noodles to indicate that they’re really enjoying noodles.
e. How do Yoruba people greet their elders?
They greet by kneeling or lying prostrate.
Which of the above customs did you find more interesting? Share it with your friends.
Grammar II
Choose the following sentences in indirect speech from the list to match with the sentences in direct speech in the table below.
| Direct Speech | Indirect Speech Match |
|---|---|
| a. The new pupil said to me, “Are you a class captain?” | v. The new pupil asked me if I was a class captain. |
| b. Samir asked Rohan, “Have you finished reading my book?” | iv. Samir asked Rohan whether he had finished reading his book. |
| c. I asked the teacher, “Has the book been translated into Nepali?” | ii. I asked the teacher whether the book had been translated into Nepali. |
| d. “Has the bus to Kathmandu already left?” I said to a woman next to me. | i. I asked the woman next to me if the bus to Kathmandu had already left. |
| e. “Should I write the story again?” Barsa asked her teacher. | iii. Barsa asked her teacher if she should write the story again. |
Change the following sentences into indirect speech.
Rahul said to me, “Did you watch the cricket match on TV last night?”
Rahul asked me if I had watched the cricket match on TV the previous night.
“Are you coming home with me?” he said.
He asked if I was coming home with him.
“Do you really come from India?” said the prince.
The prince asked if I really came from India.
“Have you anything to say?” said the judge finally.
The judge finally asked if I had anything to say.
She said to me, “Is he at home?”
She asked me if he was at home.
Usha says, “Can you solve the problem?”
Usha asks if I can solve the problem.
Badri said to Asmita, “Will you visit me in Australia?”
Badri asked Asmita if she would visit him in Australia.
Radhika said to Rebecca, “Did you hear the noise?”
Radhika asked Rebecca if she had heard the noise.
He said, “Have you seen my hat?”
He asked if I had seen his hat.
He said to me, “Does he come or not?”
He asked me if he came or not.
Rohan said to me, “Did you spill the milk on the floor?”
Rohan asked me if I had spilt the milk on the floor.
The pilot said to the air hostess, “Have the passengers fastened their seatbelts?”
The pilot asked the air hostess if the passengers had fastened their seatbelts.
