Class 9 English Unit 9: Work and Leisure: Reading –I 'The Ant and the Grasshopper'

 

Unit – 9: Work and Leisure

Getting Started (10 Hours)

Let the students discuss the importance of the given quotations and their use. Quotations are:

·        All things are difficult before they are easy.

·        Any time is a good time to start a company.

·        We work to earn our leisure.

·        Work hard in silence, let your success be our noise. 

 

Reading –I 'The Ant and the Grasshopper'

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPJYVQnovcQ 

Vocabulary

1.           fables /ˈfeɪblz/ noun - short stories with a moral

2.           devised /dɪˈvaɪzd/ verb - planned or invented

3.           industry /ˈɪndəstri/ noun - economic activity of production

4.           giddiness /ˈɡɪdinəs/ noun - dizziness

5.           larder /ˈlɑːdə/ noun - food storage area

6.           gloom /ɡluːm/ noun - darkness or sadness

7.           hilarious /hɪˈleəriəs/ adjective - very funny

8.           black sheep /blæk ʃiːp/ noun - a disfavored family member

9.           sore trial /sɔː ˈtraɪəl/ noun - difficult test or experience

10.       expostulations /ɪkˌspɒstjʊˈleɪʃənz/ noun - strong objections or protests

11.       profoundly /prəˈfaʊndli/ adverb - deeply

12.       unscrupulous /ʌnˈskruːpjʊləs/ adjective - lacking morals

13.       luxurious /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəs/ adjective - rich and comfortable

14.       enticements /ɪnˈtaɪsmənts/ noun - temptations

15.       amendment /əˈmɛndmənt/ noun - a change or addition

16.       considerable /kənˈsɪdərəbl/ adjective - significant

17.       qualm /kwɑːm/ noun - a feeling of doubt or worry

18.       oblige /əˈblaɪdʒ/ verb - to do a favor for

19.       discreditable /dɪsˈkrɛdɪtəbl/ adjective - causing a loss of respect

20.       prosecuted /ˈprɒsɪkjuːtɪd/ verb - taken legal action against

21.       assuredly /əˈʃʊərɪdli/ adverb - certainly

22.       vindictive /vɪnˈdɪktɪv/ adjective - seeking revenge

23.       scoundrel /ˈskaʊndrəl/ noun - a dishonest person

24.       rage /reɪdʒ/ noun - intense anger

A.   Choose appropriate words from the box below to replace the colored words in the given sentences.

industry                hilarious                qualm                   enticements obliged                  amendments          expostulations

a.      If your talent combines with diligence, you can excel in your field.

b.     The dessert menu has a lot of delicious temptations.

c.      The House passed the bill without listening to the public objections.

d.     Knowledge of the ill effects of tobacco has led to modifications in smoking behavior.

e.      Without any regret, Yule started spending his father's inheritance.

f.       Mr. Smith read a humorous story that matched his real life.

Answers: a. industry, b. enticements, c. expostulations, d. amendments,

               e. qualm,f. hilarious 

B.    Put the following sentences from the story in the correct order. (Answers only)

a.      The Ramsays were perfectly respectable people.

b.     Tom left his wife and his office.

c.      When his money was spent, he borrowed it from friends and spent it on luxuries.

d.     George continued to pay for his brother's expenses.

e.      Tom promised to make a fresh start.

f.       Tom bought a motor car and some very nice jewelry.

g.     Tom never settled down.

h.     Tom began to blackmail his brother for money.

i.       Tom took the help of Cronshaw to cheat his brother and left for Monte Carlo.

C.    Answer the following questions.

a.      Why is Tom described as the ‘black sheep’ of the Ramsay family?

Tom is described as the 'black sheep' of the Ramsay family because he makes the problem for his family.

b.     What was a respectable profession for Tom?

The respectable profession for Tom was to serve in the bar.

c.      Why was George Ramsay staring into space?

He was staring into space because his brother troubled him.

d.     Why did Tom leave his work and wife?

Tom left his work and his wife to enjoy his life luxuriously.

e.      How did Tom manage his life when he ran out of money in the beginning?

Tom managed his life by borrowing money from his friends when he ran out of money in the beginning

f.       How did Cronshaw and Tom cheat George?

They cheated George by asking for some money from him to settle a fake dispute between Tome and Cronshaw. 

g.     What made George realize that his brother would never settle down?

The way of expending money for a car, and jewelry made George realize that his brother would never settle down.

h.     What is the moral of the story ‘The Ant and Grasshopper?

The moral of the story 'The Ant and Grasshopper' is to be responsible for our family affairs.

D.   Read the story again and write a summary.

This story circles two brothers, George and Tom Ramsay. George is a serious, respectable man, while Tom is irresponsible and charming. Tom abandons his family and job to travel and enjoy life, relying on borrowed money from friends and his brother. Despite George's repeated efforts to help Tom reform, Tom wastes the money on luxuries and eventually helps to blackmail George. Tom nearly faces prison for cheating a man named Cronshaw, but George saves him. George discovered that Tom and Cronshaw went to Monte Carlo with the money they got after cheating on him. George's anger with Tom's tricks parallels the moral of "The Ant and the Grasshopper."

Pronunciation

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS-aNViAPsA 

The letter 'l' in the word ‘qualm’ is a silent letter. Underline the silent letter in the following words and pronounce them.

·  doubt: /daʊt/               pneumonia: /njuːˈməʊ.ni.ə/      receipt: /rɪˈsiːt/

·  chalk: /tʃɔːk/               feign: /feɪn/                              bouquet: /buˈkeɪ/

·  light: /laɪt/                   resign: /rɪˈzaɪn/                        gnaw: /nɔː/

·  heir: /eə/                     pseudo: /ˈsjuː.dəʊ/                    knave: /neɪv/

·  knight: /naɪt/              solemn: /ˈsɒl.əm/                     island: /ˈaɪ.lənd/

·  wriggle: /ˈrɪɡ.əl/          built: /bɪlt/                               neighbour: /ˈneɪ.bə/

·        archeology: /ˌɑː.kiˈɒl.ə.dʒi/

·  buffet: /ˈbʌf.ɪt/ (n., a meal); /bəˈfeɪ/ (v., to strike repeatedly)

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