SSC English HL Textual Summaries
Textual Summaries
In this story,
there are two main characters- The thief, the narrator the of the story is 15
years old
& Anil, who is a youth of 25 years and a struggling writer. He is kind,
considerable & sympathetic person.
One day Anil was
watching a wrestling match where Hari (narrator) tries to get into conversation with him and finally wins Anil's confidence.
The thief joins with Anil in a view to rob him .He finds his master a saintly person and of a trusting nature. So, he thinks
he will be an easy victim. He joins him as a cook but does not know how
to cook. Anil being a kind person, teaches him how to cook and he even teaches
him how to read and write. Anil never
questions the thief about his purchases he makes. The thief became very fond of
his master’s goodness and nobility.
One day, Anil came
with a wad of notes (650 rupees) and kept it under his mattress. The thief
watches this clearly and is tempted to steal his money. He becomes successful
in his operation and runs away. He goes to the railway station and wants to board the Lucknow Express but
his conscience and his feeling of gratitude brings him back to
Anil. He feels ashamed of his act. Anil
knows about the whole act as the notes were still wet from last nights rain but
he doesn't give any expression that he knows about it. The thief knows
that he has betrayed his master’s trust
but Anil never made any issue out of it.
This sympathetic attitude
of Anil had a great impression on the thief. So the thief changes into a good
man.
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This is a description of the Air Force Marshal Arjan Singh.
Arjan Singh was born on April 15, 1919, in Lyalpur (now Faislabad, Pakistan), and completed his education at Montgomery (now Sahiwal, Pakistan).
Singh was selected for the Empire Pilot training course at Royal Air Force (RAF) Cranwell in 1938 when he was 19 years old. He retired from service in 1969.
Singh is an icon of India’s military history, will always be remembered as a war hero who had successfully led a young IAF during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Singh is the only officer to attain the highest post of Marshal, the Air Force equivalent to the Army’s five star field marshal. He was a fearless and exceptional pilot who had flown more than 60 different types of aircraft.
Singh was honoured with the rank of Marshal on the Republic Day in 2002. Singh was awarded Padma Vibhushan for his astute leadership of the Air Force during the war. He retired in August 1969, thereupon accepting Ambassadorship to Switzerland. He was Lieutenant Governor of Delhi from December 1989 to December 1990.
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The scene of the play opens with the background of the Hundred Years War between English and France. Captain Robert, the French military officer is talking about the Joan whom he dislikes. But the steward was praising Joan because she had managed to inspire the French soldiers to fight against the English.
As Joan entered to meet Captain Robert and told her plans to him. He threatened her to put behind the bars but she was fearless and straight forward. She informed Robert that Poulengey, Jack, Godsave, Dick and their servants, John of Honecourt and Julian would accompany her to fight the English. Robert felt that she had lost her mind because according him, his soldiers could get the job done better.
Robert called Monsieur de Poulengey and enquired if he was taking Joan seriously. Poulengey explained that there is something about Joan. He told Robert that it was a good idea to let Joan meet the Dauphin in Chino, at the Dauphin is scared and wouldn’t fight to stop the English. He believed that Joan herself is a bit of a miracles, who could miraculously free Orleans. However, Robert was not convinced.
Robert tried to scare Joan but she seemed unafraid and told him that if God is on their side nothing is difficult. Joan pointed out the French soldiers would run away to save their skin but she would teach them to fight for France. Finally, Robert decided to take a risk at the insistence of Poulengey and gave Joan a chance as there was something about her that she was extremely convincing.
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The Alchemy of Nature explains the power of elements of nature.
Nature has a power to sooth us, nourish us, relax us and enhance our well-being.
So we should go to the nature to rejuvenate our being.
We should learn from nature and transform our life. Like-
Hibiscus gives the message of living life to the fullest.
Water can carve and sculpt the hard rock with its perseverance.
Tiny blades of grass growing through the cracks in the concrete pavements gives us the message that there is always an opening.
Like that the author has narrated the magical transforming power of nature. It can change our life in the most positive way.
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A certain King desperately seeks answers to three questions like:
When is the right time to begin everything?
Who are the right people to listen to?
What is the most important thing to do?
The King wants to be a perfect person and ruler so he tries to gather the correct answers from learned people in his kingdom. But none of them comes up with any satisfactory and convincing answers to his questions. The king decides to go to a hermit who is widely renowned for his wisdom the hermit lives in a small hut in a forest which he never left. He speaks only to common people. So the King puts on simple clothes and approaches the hermit's hut, leaving his horse and bodyguard.
The hermit greets the King but continues his digging. The King asks his three questions to the hermit but he doesn’t answer. He continues digging the soil. The king helps him to dig soil till sunset. Two beds of soil are ready for sowing seeds, then the king asks his questions. But the hermit doesn’t answer his questions.
The king becomes impatient so he finally requests the hermit to answer his question or he will return to his home. Suddenly, a bearded man comes running to them bleeding profusely. The King tends to him and saves the man’s life. The King being very tired, galls asleep. He later comes to know from the bearded man that he had come to kill the king who had executed his brother. But after what the King did for him, he is indebted to him.
The King forgives him and arranges for his own servant and physician to attend to him.
The hermit interprets these events and answers the king like:
1. The most important time is ‘now’, the present moment.
2. The most necessary person is the one with whom you are.
3. The most important thing is to do good to the person you are with.
This is the reason, we are given this life of a human being.
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Words of Wisdom by Steve Jobs commencement speech at Stanford
1. Connect the dots.
You can't connect the dots looking forward, you can only connect them looking backwards.
You can never KNOW what positive will come out of any situation - even your most challenging ones.
Our greatest struggles often guide us to our greatest blessings.
TRUST that everything will work out perfectly in the end, if you stay true to yourself and follow your heart.
2. Love and loss.
You've got to find what you love.
When you love what you do, it's not work, it's play.
When you love what you do, everything you do is done with a quality that can't be matched by "hard work“.
Do what you love and your LIFE will be a vacation.
3. Follow your intuition and trust your heart.
When in doubt, go to your heart.
Your intuition will always guide you to the right destination.
In the first story, Steve Jobs narrated about ‘Connecting the Dots’.
He talked about his college days where he dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months and began dropping in on the one that looked interesting. But here, he learnt the best calligraphy lessons so he made great typography like Serif and San Serif fonts.
During those days, he had not his shelter so he slept on the floor in friend’s room. He would walk seven miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple.
He followed his heart and ended up designing the first Macintosh computer (Mac). According to him you have to trust in your gut, destiny, life, karma. In short, whatever you do in life, helps you in future. In the second story, Steve Jobs described about ‘his love and loss.’
He found what he loved in his early life. He started Apple in a garage into a 2 US Billion dollar company and got fired from the same.
He had lost what he had made. He had taken that as a lesson and begun all over again with a different perspective. He started companies Next and Pixar – the world’s most successful animation studio. He also talked about the love of his life, Laurence, whom he married later.
In the third story, Steve Jobs told about ‘the death’. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. His doctor had advised him to settle all his things means ‘be ready to die’. He had surgery and he got cured. He said that his life was unpredictable. So he insisted to live your life and use your living time judiciously.
Steve Jobs wished that ‘Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish’. It means: Always keep wanting something more and something new. Always keep an open mind. Never think you know everything.
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The lesson is a speech delivered by Kailash Satyarthi on receiving the ‘Nobel Peace Prize.’ Begins by narrating a Mantra from the Vedas which is a prayer to liberate humanity from all man-made crisis. His all inclusive prayer is a plea for creating knowledge that benefits all. He talks about how he has seen Godliness in all the children. He gives credit of freed children to members of his movements, Kaalu Kuma, Dhoom Das and Adarsh Kishore from India and Iqbal Masih from Pakistan. He thanks them for sacrificing their lives for protecting the freedom and dignity of children.
He accepts the award on their behalf. As a representative of children he voices their challenges and poses some very thought-provoking questions that he was asked by the children he has liberated. He goes on to say how all regions too support the freedom of children. He draws a similarity between violence and depriving children of their rights. He refuses to accept that places of worship, laws and constitutions have no power to help children realize their dreams.
He specifies his aim which is to help children develop physically, socially, emotionally and intellectually. Showing a sign of hop, he narrates the success achieved by them in all areas. He considers fear and intolerance to be the biggest challenge today. He believes in education that promotes global citizenship. Failing in imparting this would result in violence.
Giving examples of brave daughters like Malala, Kayanat and Shaizia, he applauds their efforts. He feels that conferences cannot give solution to challenges faced by children but small groups, local organizations and individuals can bring about a change. He narrates a story of a small bird extinguishing fire with one drop of water in its beak. When asked, she tells the lion that she is doing her bit. He stresses that individuals have the forum to begin a revolution.
He feels lack of compassion has disconnected us. He makes an appeal to all the government and faith leaders, all business and workers to collectively stop all form of abuses meted out to children. Underlining the importance of today, he asks us all to march towards prosperity, liberty, peace, awakening and divinity.
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“ Science and Spirituality” gives us an insight into A. P. J. Abdul Kalam's thoughts and actions. A renowned scientist whose contribution to the field of science is exemplary. He was very secular in his thoughts and an incredibly down to earth person and chose to live a simple life in spite of having all the privileges. He was one of the most respected leaders the world could ever have. It was his firm belief that the rich must live simply so that the poor can simply live. He attributes his humility to the teachings of his father and the way he was brought up.
The lesson highlights his close interactions not only with the great scientist Dr. Vikram Sarabai but also with Reverend Father Pereira; His Holiness Dr. Sri Shiva Kumara Mahaswamiji and many other great religious personalities. He felt blessed to have such great people in his life who added value to his very being. He was brought up on the island of Rameshwaram where Hindus, Christians and Muslims lived in harmony. It was his belief that through difficulties and problems God gives us the opportunity to grow. He had his share of failures and hardships before reaching the top, but his faith made him turn every failure into a teacher.
A gifted visionary, his vision for 2020, projects India Wins as a super power, an economic giant and a great nation of the modern times. He firmly believed in an education with a value system which would bring about a peaceful world. The one line which never left his thoughts was what Mahaswamiji had told him, during one of their discourses. It was - The essence of a happy life and peaceful society is in one sentence, ' What can I give?'. Dr. Kalam brought this idea into reality in 2012 through the 'What Can I Give Movement' through which Dr. Kalam tried to combat corruption, environmental degradation and social evils.
A quote by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam which describes him best is "For great men, religion is a way of making friends small people make religion a fighting tool."
He said that "Religion should graduate into spirituality to bring peace in the world."
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3.2 The Night I Met Einstein
This is a an article describes the writer’s unusual meeting with Einstein. The writer was invited to dine at he house of a powerful business man. After the dinner, there was a concert and a pianist did his performance. The writer was not interested about the concert as he was tone-deaf so he was bored and inattentive. The writer’s neighbour (Einstein) understood the writer’s problem that he did not understand anything about classical music.
Einstein thought seriously about the writer’s problem and took him to another room which had a gramophones and player what the writer knew and had interest in. Einstein gradually made him learn and sing by giving certain examples and made him capable of appreciating music sincerely.
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He is an English theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and Director of Research at the centre of theoretical cosmology within the Cambridge University.
Hawking was the first to set out a theory of cosmology explained by a union of the general theory of relativity and quantum machines.
Hawking is an honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), a lifetime member of the Portificial Academy of Sciences, and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the US.
This lesson gives us an insight about the great scientist, his life and his works.
This text highlights the history of Stephen Hawking, who was a British Scientist, professor and author who did groundbreaking work in Physics and Cosmology.
After being diagnosed with a disease named Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), his body collapsed totally yet he proved to the world that where there is a will there is a way and co-wrote 15 books. He was the first to propound the Theory of Cosmology with is deamination and obstinacy.
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This is an interview of the famous ‘Mary Kom’ who made Indian proud with her sports achievements in the filed of boxing. She made her own way to success. She knew dreams, her strength & reached the heights of success at a very young age without forgetting to support her family.
Of course, her journey of success was not an easy task. There were a lot of ups and downs but this did not shake her determination. She was inspired by the boxer Dingko Singh, a gold medalist in the Asian games 1998, she started here career in boxing at a very young age and made here international debut at the tender age of 18. She hopes that her wins inspire to cease racial discrimination. She has proved what she can be a in a zone that is thoroughly dominated by men.
Being a mother
herself, she is a motivation for most of the Indian women. An advice for
everyone, especially women, if you ever feel lost or hassled in life, remember
there is someone like Mary Kom who did not give up.
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It is a real /true about the greatness and simplicity of Pandit Ravi Shankar & Ustad Allarakha first one is sitar player while other is well known table player.
In the story there are two children. Smita a girl about sixteen and her brother Anant both are very much interested in music. They were both taking sitar lesson. But Anant was something extra - ordinary was able to compose his own tunes.
Unfortunately Anant was a cancer patient. When the family came to know this fact they moved to Bombay for better treatment. One day, when they were in Bombay Smita read in newspaper about Panditji’s programme. But at the same time Her brother could not attend the concert though he wish.
Smita felt very bad of this and she decided to find out some way for her brother. On the day of concert Smita attended the program. And at the end she mate Panditji and told him the whole incident about her brother. More over, she requested Panditji to come and play sitar for her brother who is at her aunts house. So astonishing it was ! On the second day t hey both came and played for dear Anant.
Surrounding with him a great and beautiful happiness as life went out of him gently, very gently. Panditji asked Ustadji about it and without wasting time, they said Smita that they would come tomorrow at aunt’s house.
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The writer narrates a humorous incident, a luncheon date with a lady who is an admirer of his stories. She wins the author's favour & expresses her wish to meet him at a high class restaurant, Foyot for ‘light lunch’.
The writer had only 80 Francs, to last him the rest of the month. The lady ordered several thing like as salmon, caviar, giant asparagus, a peach from Italy and coffee and ice-cream each one individually because she never eats anything for luncheon. Whereas the writer had ordered mutton, the cheapest dish on the menu.
When the bill for the light lunch came, the writer had only three Franck left to leave a meager tip for the waiter. Of course, he had the rest of the month ahead of him and he was penniless.
The writer explains at the end of the text that the woman who only ate light lunches and only one thing at a time has a weight of twenty one stone after 20 years. (nearly 134 kilos)
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The text gives information about the UNESCO and World Heritage Sites.
A World Heritage Site is a landmark of natural or cultural importance or even both. Such sites are determined by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) which stated protecting such sites in the 1950s. The process of how a world heritage site is selected from all over the world.
As of of 2009, there are 890 such sites all over the world in five geographic zones. These are Africa, Arab States Asia Pacific, Europe - North America, Latin America -the Caribbean.
Unfortunately, many of them are endangered due to war, earthquakes, urbanization as well as pollution and rain.
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The Old Man and the Sea is a short novel written by the American author Ernest Hemingway in 1951 in Cuba, and published in 1952. It was the last major work of fiction by Hemingway that was published during his lifetime. One of his most famous works, it tells the story of Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman who struggles with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream off the coast of Cuba.
The Old Man and the Sea tells the story of a battle between an aging, experienced fisherman, Santiago, and a large marlin. The story opens with Santiago having gone 84 days without catching a fish, and now being seen as "salao," the worst form of unluckiness. He is so unlucky that his young apprentice, Mandolin, has been forbidden by his parents to sail with him and has been told instead to fish with successful fishermen. The boy visits Santiago's shack each night, hauling his fishing gear, preparing food, talking about American baseball and his favorite player, Joe DiMaggio. Santiago tells Manolin that on the next day, he will venture far out into the Gulf Stream, north of Cuba in the Straits of Floridato fish, confident that his unlucky streak is near its end.
On the eighty-fifth day of his unlucky streak, Santiago takes his skiff into the Gulf Stream, sets his lines and, by noon, has his bait taken by a big fish that he is sure is a marlin. Unable to haul in the great marlin, Santiago is instead pulled by the marlin, and two days and nights pass with Santiago holding onto the line. Though wounded by the struggle and in pain, Santiago expresses a compassionate appreciation for his adversary, often referring to him as a brother. He also determines that, because of the fish's great dignity, no one shall deserve to eat the marlin.
On the third day, the fish begins to circle the skiff. Santiago, worn out and almost delirious, uses all his remaining strength to pull the fish onto its side and stab the marlin with a harpoon. Santiago straps the marlin to the side of his skiff and heads home, thinking about the high price the fish will bring him at the market and how many people he will feed.
On his way in to shore, sharks are attracted to the marlin's blood. Santiago kills a great mako shark with his harpoon, but he loses the weapon. He makes a new harpoon by strapping his knife to the end of an oar to help ward off the next line of sharks; five sharks are slain and many others are driven away.
But the sharks keep coming, and by nightfall the sharks have almost devoured the marlin's entire carcass, leaving a skeleton consisting mostly of its backbone, its tail and its head. Santiago knows that he is defeated and tells the sharks of how they have killed his dreams. Upon reaching the shore before dawn on the next day, Santiago struggles to his shack, carrying the heavy mast on his shoulder, leaving the fish head and the bones on the shore. Once home, he slumps onto his bed and falls into a deep sleep.
A group of fishermen gather the next day around the boat where the fish's skeleton is still attached. One of the fishermen measures it to be 18 feet (5.5 m) from nose to tail. Pedrico is given the head of the fish, and the other fishermen tell Mandolin to tell the old man how sorry they are. Tourists at the nearby café mistakenly take it for a shark. The boy, worried about the old man, cries upon finding him safe asleep and at his injured hands. Mandolin brings him newspapers and coffee. When the old man wakes, they promise to fish together once again. Upon his return to sleep, Santiago dreams of his youth—of lions on an African beach.
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The Gift of Magi a well known short story by an American story writer O Henry , tells us about a young married couple James known as Jim and Della Dillingham. The couple had very little money and lives in a modest apartment. They have only two treasures Jim’s gold pocket watch that belonged to his father and grandfather, and Della’s lustrous, long hair that falls almost to her knees. Its Christmas Eve and the couple fall short of money to buy Christmas gifts for each other. Della had only $ 1.87 and wanted to buy a chain for Jim’s pocket watch so decides to sell her hair for twenty dollars. Jim sells his pocket watch and buy a pair of costly decorative hair combs that she’d long admired , but are now completely useless.
Both Jim and Della behave impulsively, sacrificing their greatest treasures without thinking about the consequences and focusing on making each other happy. Jim and Della are thinking about the materialistic possessions that give us pleasure. But don’t realise that they have given each other the greatest gift , their sacrificial love .The lesson they learn is that their love for each other is worth more than all of the materialistic possessions money can buy.
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