Unit-6 - Character Building - Reading Comprehension - Speak Gently (Poem) - Questions-Answers and Text Book Exercise

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Unit-6 - Character Building
Reading Comprehension
Speak Gently (Poem)
Questions-Answers

By Mrs. Ayesha Arif
(Jauhar Progressive School)

Q.1: Who has written this poem? What did poet / poetess in the poem 'Speak Gently' tell us? OR What is the message of the poem “Speak Gently”? OR Why should we speak gently to others or to all? OR What lesson we learn from the poem "Speak Gently"?
Ans. The poem has been written by David Bates. This poem convey a lasting message based on the supreme virtue of life. The poet tells that the selective and chosen words should be used as words spoken with love in a polite and mild tone not only leave a great impression but also earn respect and love. We can win the hearts of others with sweet and soft words.

OR

The message of the poem is that “we should speak gently to everyone because we can win the heart of the people by speaking gently and politely”.

OR

The central idea or message of the beautiful and heart touching poem "Speak Gently" is that speaking harshly hurts the feelings of our fellowmen and make them unhappy. While speaking gently and using soft word them make happy. We should speak sweetly and gently. This is the lesson what we earn from the poem "Speak Gently".

OR

The message of the poem is that we should always speak gently to others. It is a great virtue. We will be rewarded for speaking gently to people in the eternity. Everybody loves and respects a persons who speaks gently.

Q.2: What is the result of adopting harsh attitude? OR What are the disadvantages of speaking harshly?
Ans. To speak harshly is a kind of ethical and social sin which can deprive our all good deeds, so we should produce mildness in our character. This is the only way through which we can provide security to our good deeds which we have done in this mortal world.

OR

Speaking harshly to people will deprive us of all the good we do here. It is far better to rule by love than fear. If we speak harshly, we will have more enemies than friends. Besides nobody will like us.

Q.3: Why should we speak gently to the aged one or old people?
Ans. We should speak gently to the aged one or old people because they are already worried, we should not increase their sorrow. They are not going to live for a long time.  They must be given love, care and concern. Soft and polite tone will help their soul to depart in peace.

OR

We should speak gently to the aged or old people because they are going to die soon. We should make them sad by speaking harshly. If we speak gently to them, they will be happy and die in peace.

Q.4: Why should we speak gently to the little children?
Ans. We should speak gently to the little children  so that they can also learn to speak gently.  We can win their hearts by speaking in soft and mild accent because they are like the blooming flowers.

OR

We should speak gently to children so that they can also learn to speak gently. Childhood does not remain for a long period, so we should teach them softly and mildly. We can get their love only by speaking gently.

Q.5: What resemblance does he find between hearts and the deep well?
Ans. The poet finds resemblance between hearts and deep well because like deep well we cannot assume what is deeply within human heart. One thing is sure that the soft words go deeply in the heart and we cannot assume these words out of the hearts.

Q. 6: What are the advantages or benefits of speak gently? OR  With whom should we speak gently as referred to in the poem?
We should speak gently to everybody.  One can rule over others only through love.  Harsh and cruel words can spoil our good deeds. If we want to win the love of children, we must speak to them gently, we should speak gently to the old ones also because they are going to leave this world very soon. They should be allowed to die peacefully. We should be kind and gentle in our dealing with all. God will be pleased and will reward us in the eternal world.

" Gentle words unlock the iron gates."

OR

We can win people's heart by speaking gently. Speaking gently is a little thing, but it has so many good effects. God likes it too, we will be awarded for it in the life hereafter.

Q.8: What does the poet say about eternity?
Ans: The poet says that we shall be rewarded in the world hereafter by God, if we speak gently to everybody, It is the everlasting reward one can achieve easily.

Q.9: How can we win the heart of the people?
Ans: Speak gently and using soft words please the others so we can win their hearts.

Q.10: Why do you think that speaking gently is a heavenly quality?
Ans: In my opinion speaking gently is a heavenly quality because it pleases the others so we can win their hearts. It has so many good effects. God likes it too. We will be rewarded  for it in the life hereafter.

Text Book Exercise
Unit 6.1
READING COMPREHENSION

Pre-reading

Work in pairs and discuss the followings
1. Who do you like most among your family members?
Ans: I like my parents Or my sister Or my brother or my aunt or my uncle.

2. Why do like him/her.
Ans: Because he /she always talks with lots of love and care.

3. How can we earn more respect from people?
Ans: We can earn more respect from people only, if we also give them respect, behave kindly and talk with softly.

EXERCISE 1

Answer the following questions and then share your answer with your partner.
1. The main idea of the poem is to speak gently with:
a) children
b) young people
c) all people
d) old people

2. By speaking gently, we attract people's:
a) attention
b) love
c) care
d) help

3. Speaking gently is something:
a) big
b) difficult
c) small
d) impossible

4. We shall have good results of speaking kindly in the:
a) shortly
b) world
c) deeply
d) keenly

5. We should speak kindly to the old people because they will leave the world:
a) after a long time
b) shortly
c) deeply
d) none of these

EXERCISE 2

Work in pairs and underline the following words in the poem. Next choose the suitable meanings from the box below and write it against the words:

Unending time/forever, Tone of voice, Tired, Spoil, Cause unhappiness, Rude or rough, Softly and kindly, Old

S.NO.	Words	Meanings
1.	Gently	softly and kindly
2.	Harsh	rude or rough
3.	Mar	Spoil
4.	Accents	tone of voice
5.	Aged	Old
6.	Grieve	cause unhappiness
7.	Careworn	Tired
8.	eternity	Unending time/ forever

EXERCISE 3

Read the text and match sentences in column A with column B. Write the answers in column C. Compare your answers with your partner.

S.NO.	Words	Meanings	S.NO.
1.	Speak gently to everyone	So as not cause them unhappiness	1A-5B
2.	Speak gently so as not to	its impact on people's lives	2A-4B
3.	Speak gently to little children and	small but important	3A-6B
4.	Speak gently to old people	wipe out all the good work done	4A-1B
5.	Speak gently as it is something	to win people's love	5A-3B
6.	Speak gently as only time will show	teach them in a soft manner	6A-2B

EXERCISE 4

Work in pairs and find out the reasons why the poet asks us to speak gently. First discuss the reasons orally and then write the answers in your note book.
a) We should speak gently to everyone because
Ans: it is far better to rule by love than by fear. OR
soft and kind words leave a deep and lasting impression.

b) We should not speak in a harsh manner because
Ans: we are here to do good things. OR
it will deprive us of all the good we do here we will have more enemies than friends.

c) We should teach children in a soft manner because
Ans: they will response as we teach them. OR
they can also learn to speak gently, We can get their love by speaking gently with them.

d) We should not cause unhappiness to older people because
Ans: they are near to death and they should leave the world happily. OR
let them die in peace, we should not make them sad by speaking harshly.

e) Speaking gently is a small but important thing because
Ans: it leaves a long lasting effect on one’s life OR
it touches the depths of the heart. The good and the joy it brings eternity shall tell.

EXERCISE 5

Write in pairs and list down two things for each verse that the poet mentions people should do and what would be the result of doing each thing:
Verse 1:
a) We should speak gently. Our words should be soft, kind and loving
b) It will spread goodness everywhere in the world.

OR

a) Speak gently to everyone
b) Rule by love
Result: By speaking softly we win people's heart. We rule the hearts.

Verse 2:
a) We should teach soft and gentle accent to children
b) As they may learn the way and apply it in their life to come.

OR

a) Speak gently to children
b) Teach them soft and mild accent
Result: Children's childhood will soon be over. They will learn to speak softly and we will get the love of children.

Verse 3:
a) We should speak gently to the old one and make them not happy
b) Their time of life is too short. They should be departed peacefully

OR

a) Speak gently to old persons
b) Let them die in peace
Result: Older person don't know what they have endured in their lives. Do not grieve their broken hearts. Make it easy for them to leave the world.

Verse 4:
a) Speak gently is little thing
b) It remains forever and its reward is also eternal.

OR

a) Speak gently to everyone
b) Speak gently is a small thing but do it
Result: It touches the depth of the heart. The good and the joy it brings Eternity shall tell.

EXERCISE 6

Based on answers in exercises 3, 4, 5, write the summary of the poem. look at the summary writing tips in Unit 3.1 and 3,4.
Ans: For the summary of the poem CLICK HERE.

EXERCISE 7

work in groups of three. Discuss and list some of the small things that one can say or do to make people happy and some small things that one may say or do that can hurt people:

S.NO.	Things related to happiness	Things related to hurt
1.	Speak gently	Speak harshly
2.	Love	Fear
3.	Softness	Strictness
4.	Kindness	Lie
5.	Truthfulness	Misery
4.	Simplicity	Arrogance
5.	Good character	Greed

EXERCISE 8

Select any three things from each of the section, i.e., happiness and hurting, and discuss what you can you do to provide happiness and to avoid things that hurt people. Each one of you will have to speak in front of the class stating one thing that you will do to give happiness and one thing that you will do to avoid hurting people.
Ans: