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| Neb English Support Class 12 |
Unit 16 Fantasy Class 12 | Language Development The Romance of a Busy Broker | Compulsory English by Suraj Bhatt
Unit 16: Fantasy [The Romance of a Busy Broker]
BEFORE YOU READ
a. How busy is life in your city or village?
Answer:
Life is not so busy in my village. Most people in my village spend their idle lives.
b. “Busy life is better than the idle life.” Do you agree or not?
Answer:
Yes, I agree with this statement. Busy life is a life of progress and prosperity, whereas idle life is a useless life where there is no progress at all.
WORKING WITH WORDS
A. Match the following words with their definitions.
a. snappy 》iii. irritable and inclined to speak sharply
b. discretion 》vi. the ability to behave without causing embarrassment or attracting too much attention
c. radiant 》vii. showing great happiness, love or health
d. irresolute 》viii. not able to decide what to do
e. brusque 》x. using very few words and sounding rude
f. fitful 》v. a quiet period between times of activity
g. harlequin 》ix. a humorous character in some traditional plays
h. lull 》ii. happening only for short periods
i. janitress 》i. a lady whose job is to take care of a building such as a school or a block of flats
j. speck 》iv. a very small spot
B. Consult a dictionary or search over the internet and write definitions of the following terminologies used in the stock market.
a. Liquidity:
Definition: The degree of which something is in high supply and demand, making it easily convertible to cash
b. IPO:
Definition: Initialism of initial public offering refers to the process of offering shares of a private corporation to the public in a new stock issuance.
c. NEPSE:
Definition: The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) is the only stock exchange of Nepal. Nepal Stock Exchange Limited
d. index:
Definition: A single number calculated from an array of prices or of quantities.
e. portfolio:
Definition: The group of investments and other assets held by an investor.
f. dividend:
Definition: A pro rata payment of money by a company to its shareholders, usually made periodically.
g. turn over:
Definition: To generate (a certain amount of money from sales).
h. margin:
Definition: The yield or profit; the selling price minus the cost of production.
Based on the pronunciation, find the odd word from the following groups.
a. sell, cell, see, set
》see
b. stopped, laughed, saved, booked
》saved
c. hare, mere, beer, here
》hare
d. so, sew, sow, saw
》saw
e. book, food, pool, tool
》book
f. fan, jam, past, van
》past
g. sell, cell, sale, said
》sale
h. howl, bowl, fowl, growl
》bowl
i. learn, verb, turn, torn
》torn
j. poor, sure, door, dog
》sure
Read 👉 Short Story 》My Old Home by Lu Xun
COMPREHENSION
A. Write ‘T’ for true statements, ‘F’ for false ones or ‘NG’ if the information is not given in the text.
a. Harvey Maxwell was a stock broker.
》True
b. He was not happy with his clerk, Pitcher.
》Not given
c. Miss Leslie had been married to Maxell for a year.
》False
d. Maxwell had hired a machine to work in his office.
》Not given
e. He had instructed Pitcher to get a new stenographer.
》True
f. Miss Leslie was amazed by Maxwell’s proposal.
》True
g. She thought that he had probably gone mad.
》False
h. She realized that he had been absent-minded due to his business.
》True
B. Answer the following questions.
a. How did Maxwell enter his office?
Answer:
Maxwell entered his office briskly (in an active and quick manner) accompanied by his young female stenographer and said "good morning" to the pitcher, which took him by surprise.
b. Describe the physical appearance of the young lady.
Answer:
The young lady was quite beautiful with her charming pompadour (rolled-up hairstyle). She was in a grey and plain dress. She had a soft, shaggy, glossy look with dreamy, sparkling eyes, real peach cheeks, a happy mood, and memories.
c. What changes did Pitcher notice in the young lady?
Answer:
Following are the changes that Pitcher noticed in the young lady:
▪︎ She stayed in the outside office instead of going directly to the next room, where her desk was.
▪︎ She proceeded from Maxwell's desk to let him know of her presence.
d. What was Pitcher’s reply to the young lady concerning a new stenographer?
Answer:
Pitcher replied to the young lady about a new stenographer, saying that Maxwell had already asked him to bring in another stenographer and then notified the agency yesterday afternoon to send some samples, and no candidates other than her by that time had arrived.
e. What proposal did Maxwell make with Miss Leslie?
Answer:
Maxwell made a marriage proposal with Miss Leslie.
f. How did she react to his proposal?
Answer:
When Maxwell proposed to her, she first seemed overcome with amazement, and then tears flowed from her wondering eyes, and finally, she smiled and slid her arms tenderly about the broker's neck.
CRITICAL THINKING
a. What message does the writer want to give by presenting Maxwell as an extremely absent-minded person?
Answer:
In this story, "The Romance of a Busy Broker," the author presents Maxwell as an extremely absent-minded person. By presenting a character like Maxwell, the author wants to give us a serious message about the present generation's busy people and their activities, which have kept them quite away from their relationships and family responsibilities. They seem to be living their lives just like robots who are focused on their work. This story has presented the reality of the present and their busy times. The story has focused on how a busy work schedule makes modern people absent-minded and alien from relationships and responsibilities.
Here, we find Maxwell, a very busy broker who is only concerned with his official tasks. He keeps on engaging himself in official activities quite away from the access of others as friends, relatives, and even from his own condition. Due to his workaholic manners, he has become extremely absent-minded. This person has been compared to a robot or machine in the story by the author, who values his official tasks more than anything else.
By presenting a character like Maxwell, the author wants to convey the message that modern people have forgotten their responsibilities towards their friends and relatives. They have become too addicted to their work and reached a state of absent-mindedness. For them, nothing is worth much except profit and loss, promotions, etc. They have forgotten their responsibilities towards their family members, who are workaholics. In the story, Maxwell forgets his wife and marriage as he is busy with his work.
With this story, the author wants to focus the readers' attention on the most important aspect: family relationships and responsibilities play a very vital role in people's lives. These aspects are primary, whereas other aspects are secondary.
b. Imagine you are Miss Leslie. Write how you were troubled emotionally when your own husband came to you and made a marriage proposal.
Answer:
Hello, I'm Miss Leslie. I would like to share quite interesting as well as shocking events of my life that happened to me recently. I'm the wife of Maxwell, who is a broker by profession. We were recently married in a church. My husband is such a workaholic. He keeps on engaging himself in his official tasks a lot. He doesn't care about other things except for his tasks. One day, in our office, while working together, he approached me, being enchanted by the smell or fragrance of me, and decided to propose to marry me. I was thoroughly shocked to hear his words about the proposal. He proposed to me, though we were married. At first, I was surprised, and then tears flowed from my wondering eyes. Finally, I smiled, put my arms around his neck, and told him that we had already married the previous evening in a little church around the corner. Due to that event, I was emotionally troubled. I felt so sad to see his absent-mindedness due to his workaholic nature. I even felt much love for him after that event.
WRITING
Study the following text and its summary.
Nepal’s migration situation is dominated by the migration of Nepalis for foreign employment. The 2011 census on population and housing showed that almost 50 percent of Nepal’s households had a member who was either working overseas or had returned. While this labour migration has a significant positive effect on Nepal’s economy, it also has a series of socioeconomic impacts on the welfare of Nepali nationals and their communities. Exploitation of migrant workers is rife, and aspiring labour migrants may find themselves in a situation of irregular migration or trafficking. Nepal’s environmental vulnerability also has an impact on the scale of internal and international migration. Climate change, environmental degradation, and natural and man-made disasters cause displacement and dislocation from the land, meaning that many Nepalis migrate to ensure a sustainable livelihood. Nepal’s open border with its close neighbour India is another defining and unique characteristic in Nepal’s migration context. Although the lack of data on this issue is of concern, it is recognised that there are frequent and extensive cross-border movements that have significant impacts for Nepal, both positive and potentially negative. The 2011 census data shows that nearly two-fifths (37.2%) of the Nepali absentees are in India; however, such data has its limitations in the case of an open border where crossing can be short-term or seasonable and will be undocumented. There are also no records kept on how many Nepalis work in India or where they are.
Traditionally, Nepali migrant workers sought employment mainly in India; however, from the mid-1980s on, Nepalis started to migrate to the Gulf States and Malaysia for work, which resulted in an increase in migrant workers as well as a proliferation of labour recruitment agencies and brokers. The decentralisation of passport issuance in Nepal also facilitated the migration of many unskilled and semi-skilled Nepalis.
During the past two decades, Nepal has also witnessed an increase in the number of Nepali women who are seeking work abroad and are being gradually recognised as important economic actors. The risk of exploitation and abuse of women migrant workers is high, particularly in largely unregulated sectors such as domestic work, and the government has put in place a series of measures seeking to protect women migrants. To date, these measures have met with limited success, and there is still evidence that many women migrants are in situations of risk.
Summary Notes
Main Idea: Migration in Nepal takes place mainly for foreign employment
Key points
• 50 percent of Nepali household had a member who had migrated to overseas
• Overseas migration can also create the problem of human trafficking
• Various factors play role in migration
• Migration of Nepali workers has spread to Gulf States and Malaysia
• The number of women migrants for employment is at the rise
Summary
Nepal’s migration situation is heavily dominated by people migrating to foreign countries for employment. According to census report of 2011, 50 percent of Nepali households had a member who had migrated to foreign countries. Many Nepalis migrate to foreign countries to ensure a sustainable livelihood. Nepal’s open border is another cause of migration. Data shows that about 37.2% of Nepali migrants are in India. Traditionally India is the main destination of Nepali migrants. However, people have started to migrate to Golf countries and Malaysia from mid -1980s. There is also an increase in number of Nepali women migrating to foreign countries for job. This has increased the risk of exploitation and abuse of them.
Now, summarize the following part of “The Romance of a Busy Broker”. Consider the following points while writing the summary.
She looked up at him with a smile. A soft pink crept over her cheek, and her eyes were kind and frank. Maxwell leaned one elbow on her desk. He still clutched fluttering papers with both hands and the pen was above his ear.
"Miss Leslie," he began hurriedly, "I have but a moment to spare. I want to say something in that moment. Will you be my wife? I haven't had time to make love to you in the ordinary way, but I really do love you. Talk quick, please--those fellows are clubbing the stuffing out of Union Pacific."
"Oh, what are you talking about?" exclaimed the young lady. She rose to her feet and gazed upon him, round-eyed.
"Don't you understand?" said Maxwell, restively. "I want you to marry me. I love you, Miss Leslie. I wanted to tell you, and I snatched a minute when things had slackened up a bit. They're calling me for the phone now. Tell 'em to wait a minute, Pitcher. Won't you, Miss Leslie?"
The stenographer acted very queerly. At first she seemed overcome with amazement; then tears flowed from her wondering eyes; and then she smiled sunnily through them, and one of her arms slid tenderly about the broker's neck.
"I know now," she said, softly. "It's this old business that has driven everything else out of your head for the time. I was frightened at first. Don't you remember, Harvey? We were married last evening at 8 o'clock in the Little Church around the Corner."
Answer:
Summary Notes
Main Idea: A busy broker proposed his wife for marriage due to his absent-mindedness
Key points
▪︎ A beautiful woman named Miss Leslie attracted Maxwell with her beauty as well as her smile.
▪︎ Maxwell was thoroughly attracted to her and proposed to marry her hurriedly.
▪︎ She was surprised to hear his words.
▪︎ She seemed overcome with amazement. Tears flowed from her wondering eyes. She reminded Maxwell about their marriage last evening at 8 o'clock in the little church around the corner.
Summary
Maxwell was attracted by the beauty and charm of Miss Leslie. While working together, he approached her, being enchanted by the smell or fragrance of her, and decided to propose to marry her. Miss Leslie was thoroughly shocked to hear his words about the proposal. He proposed to her, though they were married. At first, Miss Leslie was surprised, and then tears flowed from her wondering eyes. Finally, she smiled, put her arms around his neck, and told him that they had already married the previous evening in a little church around the corner. Due to that event, she was emotionally troubled. She felt so sad to see his absent-mindedness due to his workaholic nature. She even felt a lot of love for him after that event.
GRAMMAR
Relative clause
A. Study the following sentences and underline the relative clauses.
a. I snatched a minute when things had slackened a minute.
b. Instead of going straight into the adjoining room, where her desk was, she lingered slightly irresolute in the outer office.
c. She was beautiful in a way that was decidedly stenographic.
B. Fill in the blanks with suitable relative pronouns: who, which, that, whom, whose, where, why, how, what or when.
a. There is a lady ……….wallet has been stolen.
Answer: whose
b. Do you know the man ……..sold these glasses?
Answer: who
c. The knife …………you cut the bread with is very sharp.
Answer: which
d. Why do you blame him for everything ………goes wrong?
Answer: that
e. A cemetery is a place…………..dead bodies are buried.
Answer: where
f. This school is for those children……….mother tongue is not Nepali.
Answer: whose
g. I don’t know the name of the person……………I spoke over the telephone.
Answer: whom
h. I came to Kathmandu on the day…………….the devastating earthquake took place.
Answer: when
i. In the application form she wrote…………..she needed a good payment.
Answer: when
j. The pilot explained ………….he made force landing on the road.
Answer: why
C. Join the following pairs of sentences using who, which, that, whose, whom, where, when or what.
a. The building was destroyed in the fire. It has now been rebuilt.
Answer:
The building, which has now been rebuilt, was destroyed in the fire.
b. A new cricket stadium is being made in Chitwan. It can accommodate one hundred thousand people.
Answer:
A new cricket stadium, which can accommodate one hundred thousand people, is being made in Chitwan.
c. Shanghai is the most populated city in the world. I stayed there for five years.
Answer:
Shanghai, where I stayed for years, is the most populated city in the world.
d. This is the man. I gave some money to him this morning.
Answer:
This is the man to whom I gave some money this morning.
e. Do know the man? His son was awarded in the school yesterday.
Answer:
Do you know the man whose son was awarded in the school yesterday?
f. His step-mother was not very kind to him. He had been staying with her.
Answer:
His step-mother, with whom he had been staying, was not very kind to him.
g. He can never forget Nakkhu Jail. He had spent 14 years there.
Answer:
He can never forget Nakkhu Jail where he had spent 14 years.
h. He showed me his new tab. He had paid a hundred thousand rupees for it.
Answer:
He showed me his new tab for that he had paid a hundred thousand rupees.
i. Nelson Mandela joined ANC in 1930s. He was a student then.
Answer:
Nelson Mandela joined ANC in 1930s when he was a student.
j. She forgot to buy the things. Her mother had told to buy them.
Answer:
She forgot to buy the things that her mother had told to buy.
SPEAKING
Describing process
A. The picture below shows the steps of how tea is processed. Talk about them.
B. Read the conversation and have similar conversations in pairs using the given situations.
A: Do you know how to set a mousetrap?
B: First, you cut off a piece of cheese. When you have cut off the cheese, you place it in the trap. When you have placed it in the trap, you set the spring.
a. mend a bicycle puncture
Answer:
A: Do you know how to mend a bicycle puncture?
B: Yes, I do. First of all, you have to remove the wheel from the bicycle. When you have removed the wheel, you have to remove the tube to find the hole in it. To find out the tube's hole, you have to use a bucket of water. To check the tube's hole, you have to insert the tube into the water. If we see bubbles, you have to confirm the hole. Finally, after finding the hole, you have to patch the hole.
b. replace an electric bulb
Answer:
A: Do you know how to replace an electric bulb?
B: Yes, I do. First of all, we have to switch off the mains. We have to care a lot about the flowing electric current. After switching off the mains, we have to let the bulb cool for a while. With the help of a cotton cloth, we have to remove the bulb quite carefully. Finally, we have to insert a new bulb in its place and switch on the mains. We have to dispose of the old bulb.
c. recharge a mobile phone
Answer:
A: Do you know how to recharge a mobile phone?
B: Yes, I do. First of all, we need a recharge card. After buying a recharge card, we have to scratch the card carefully so that we can get the 16-digit pin code for recharge. For Ncell recharge, we have to dial *902* in our dial pad. After that, we have to dial a 16-digit pin code, and at the end, the code should be closed with a hashtag. If we make a call using the pins, our recharge starts proceeding, and we get a recharge success notification.
d. withdraw money from an ATM
Answer:
A: Do you know how to withdraw money from an ATM?
B: Yes, I do. First of all, insert your card in the ATM slot. ATMs ask for your preferred language. Select your preferred language. Enter the 4-digit PIN code. Select the service. Select the account type. Enter the transaction amount. Collect the cash. Finally, collect your transaction's receipt.
e. wind the film in a camera
Answer:
A: Do you know how to wind film in a camera?
B: Yes, I do. First of all, place the film on the top of the film chamber on the left side of your camera, with the film leader facing outwards to the right. Once you have installed the film properly, pull the rewind knob up or push the film into the film chamber to load the film.
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