Class 9 English Unit 4: Reading I: Death Is a Fiction

 

Unit 4: Life and Death

Complete guidelines to readings, writings and grammatical exercises 

Click for Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfUZetyLc0g

Getting Started

Let's talk about the role in the funeral ceremony in the first picture, for a person in a sad mood in the second picture, for the people participating in a religious ceremony in the third picture, and for an ill girl with a flu. 

Reading I: Death Is a Fiction

Vocabulary

·        Fiction - /ˈfɪk.ʃən/ - Noun - Imaginary or invented stories.

·        Ignorant - /ˈɪɡ.nər.ənt/ - Adjective - Lacking knowledge or awareness.

·        Unawareness - /ˌʌn.əˈweə.nəs/ - Noun - Lack of awareness.

·        Dimension - /dɪˈmen.ʃən/ - Noun - A measurable extent of some kind.

·        Distraction - /dɪˈstræk.ʃən/ - Noun - Something that diverts attention.

·        Grave - /ɡreɪv/ - Adjective - Serious or solemn.

·        Silly - /ˈsɪl.i/ - Adjective - Lacking in seriousness or sense.

·        Inhalation - /ˌɪn.həˈleɪ.ʃən/ - Noun - The act of breathing in.

·        Exhalation - /ˌeks.həˈleɪ.ʃən/ - Noun - The act of breathing out.

·        Dislodges - /dɪsˈlɒdʒ.ɪz/ - Verb - Forces out of position.

·        Fragile - /ˈfrædʒ.aɪl/ - Adjective - Easily broken or damaged.

·        Misery - /ˈmɪz.ər.i/ - Noun - Great suffering or distress.

·        Guaranteed - /ˌɡær.ənˈtiːd/ - Adjective - Assured or promised.

·        Confronted - /kənˈfrʌn.tɪd/ - Verb - Faced or challenged.

·        Uncorrupted - /ˌʌn.kəˈrʌp.tɪd/ - Adjective - Pure, not tainted or spoiled.

·        Sacred - /ˈseɪ.krɪd/ - Adjective - Holy, deserving veneration.

·        Divinity - /dɪˈvɪn.ɪ.ti/ - Noun - The quality of being divine or god-like.

·        Twisted - /ˈtwɪs.tɪd/ - Adjective - Bent out of shape or distorted.

·        Authoritatively - /ɔːˈθɒr.ɪ.tə.tɪv.li/ - Adverb - In a commanding manner.

·        Heaven - /ˈhev.ən/ - Noun - A place regarded as the abode of God and the angels.

·        Solace - /ˈsɒl.ɪs/ - Noun - Comfort in distress.

·        Essentially - /ɪˈsen.ʃəl.i/ - Adverb - Basically or fundamentally.

A.         Find the words from the text that have the following meanings.

a.      a thing that is imagined – fiction

b.     a way of looking at something – dimension

c.      to force somebody to leave – to dislodge

d.     faced somebody so that you could not avoid – confronted

e.      to make somebody feel better – solace

B.          Fill in the blanks with appropriate words.

a.      Death is a fiction created by human beings.

b.     Ultimately, we are moving straight to the grave.

c.      According to the speaker, death is guaranteed. It is sure to happen.

d.     Human beings have corrupted everything and they have twisted it whichever way they want.

C.          Answer the following questions. (Answers only)

a.      According to the speaker, there is only life because nobody has experienced death.

b.     According to the speaker, life is a process of moving from one dimension to another.

c.      There is nothing wrong with death because it is a natural part of life.

d.     We fear death because we have no idea what it is.

e.      People have an idea of death because they have been talking about it without knowing about it.

D.         What is your view about death? Write a short paragraph.

Death is an inevitable part of life, marking the end of our physical existence. To me, death is both a profound mystery and a natural transition. While it brings sadness and loss, it also prompts reflection on the meaning and value of life. I believe death is a reminder to cherish every moment and live fully, embracing each day with gratitude and purpose. It's a passage that leads to the unknown, encouraging us to find solace in the memories of those we've lost and to seek comfort in our beliefs and relationships. Ultimately, death underscores the transient nature of our existence and the enduring impact of our actions and connections.

Pronunciation

A.         Notice how the following words are pronounced

a.      Autumn - /ˈɔː.təm/ - Silent: "n"

b.     Condemn - /kənˈdem/ - Silent: "n"

c.      Solemn - /ˈsɒl.əm/ - Silent: "n"

d.     Limb - /lɪm/ - Silent: "b"

e.      Thumb - /θʌm/ - Silent: "b"

f.       Ascend - /əˈsend/ - No silent letters

g.     Descent - /dɪˈsent/ - Silent: "s" (when compared to "ascend")

h.     Evening - /ˈiːv.nɪŋ/ - Silent: "e" (first "e" may be less emphasized)

i.       Design - /dɪˈzaɪn/ - Silent: "g"

j.       Honest - /ˈɒn.ɪst/ - Silent: "h"

k.     Architect - /ˈɑː.kɪ.tekt/ - Silent: "h"

l.       Knee - /niː/ - Silent: "k"

m.   Pneumonia - /njuːˈməʊ.ni.ə/ - Silent: "p"

n.     Receipt - /rɪˈsiːt/ - Silent: "p"

B.    Pronounce the following word correctly.

·        Doubt - /daʊt/ - Silent: "b"

·        Debt - /det/ - Silent: "b"

·        Subtle - /ˈsʌt.əl/ - Silent: "b"

·        Scissors - /ˈsɪz.əz/ - Silent: "c"

·        Interesting - /ˈɪn.trə.stɪŋ/ or /ˈɪn.tə.res.tɪŋ/ - Silent: second "e" (often reduced or dropped)

·        Foreign - /ˈfɒr.ən/ - Silent: "g"

·        Stomach - /ˈstʌm.ək/ - Silent: "h"

·        Where - /weə/ - Silent: "h"

·        Whisper - /ˈwɪs.pə/ - Silent: "h"

·        Calm - /kɑːm/ - Silent: "l"

·        Salmon - /ˈsæm.ən/ - Silent: "l"

·        Psychiatrist - /saɪˈkaɪə.trɪst/ - Silent: "p"

·        Psychology - /saɪˈkɒl.ə.dʒi/ - Silent: "p"

·        Pseudonym - /ˈsjuː.də.nɪm/ - Silent: "p"

·        Island - /ˈaɪ.lənd/ - Silent: "s"

·        Castle - /ˈkɑː.səl/ - Silent: "t"

·        Hustle - /ˈhʌs.əl/ - Silent: "t"

·        Whistle - /ˈwɪs.əl/ - Silent: "t"

·        Honor - /ˈɒn.ə/ - Silent: "h"

Click for Video of Silent  Sound:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCiOTBcha-o

Speaking

Let the students act out the following conversations and make them use the expressions that help to express sympathy.

A    : I lost my new mobile phone.

B     : have you? So sad to hear that.

C.    Let them work in pairs using given clues to express sympathy.

a.      Failed the exams / That's too bad

b.     My Sister had an accident / so sad to hear that

c.      Lost the football match / what a pity

***

 Click for Next Lesson: https://limbuchandrabahadur.blogspot.com/2025/05/class-9-english-unit-4-grammar-i.html