Unit 2
1. What kind of music is Ravi Shankar famous for?
(a) Jazz
(b) Classical
(c) Pop
Ans .. Classical
2. Which country was Justin Beiber born in?
(a) USA
(b) India
(c) Canada
Ans .. Canada
3. How many strings does a guitar have?
(a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 8
Ans..6
4. What is a group of three musicians called?
(a) a trio
(b) a duet
(c) a quartet
Ans .. a trio
5. What is the next note after sa-re-ga-ma?
(a) dha
(b) ni
(c) pa
Ans .. pa
6. What is the next note after do-re-mi?
(a) ti
(b) fa
(c) so
Ans .. fa, so, la, ti
Reading Comprehension
In this section, you will read three texts on music in different perspectives. The first one will enlighten you about the effective role of music in our lives, the second reflects on the life of the famous music composer, Ludwig van Beethoven, and the third is a poem by William Wordsworth where he appreciates the melody of a song. Read the texts carefully and answer the questions that follow.
Text I
Role of Music in Life
Today, we are rushing through life and everyone seems to be pressurised and stressed about one or the other thing. Stress has become an inescapable part of our lives. Many of our illnesses are a result of stress, and to deal with it, we need certain ways to relax our body and mind. Listening to music, particularly gentle, calming and melodious music, relaxes people both physically and mentally. Music releases endorphins, the natural painkillers in our brain, which relieve us from the sense of pain. Music can normalise heart rate and blood pressure. The common occurrences of fatigue and boredom decrease when we listen to music. It diverts our attention from everyday anxieties, thereby reducing the stress caused by such concerns. While meditating, listening to music helps us to connect with our soul. Students can improve their concentration and boost their memory by listening to soft music. Soothing music, when played at night, helps us to rest and relax for a good night’s sleep. Listening to good music helps in overcoming negative traits such as anger or worry, thereby improving our personality. It creates positive energy and happiness. Every cell in the body becomes energetic with increased peace of mind. Music is a therapy for everyone — plants, birds, animals and human beings — to flourish and rejuvenate. It certainly plays an important part in making the world better for all living beings inescapable: unable to be avoided or denied
Complete the following statements by selecting the most appropriate options given below.
1. ________________ helps in relaxation of our body and
mind.
(a) Pop music
(b) Soothing music
(c) Jazz music
(d) Rock music
Ans .. Soothing music
2. The natural painkillers released in our brain are
(a) Insulin
(b) Endorphins
(c) Endocrine
(d) Glycerin
Ans .. Endorphins
3. Music is helpful in improving the _____________ of
students.
(a) concentration
(b) emotion
(c) relaxation
(d) anxiety
Ans .. concentration
4. Which word from the passage means the same as ‘torenew’?
(b) enhance
(c) release
(d) relieve
Ans .. rejuvinate
5. List the benefits of music mentioned in the passage.
Music soothes are stressed minds helping us to study better, relax better, and sleep well. Soft melodious music releases a chemical called endophormin in the brain. This substance is the body’s natural defence against the corroxsive effects of anxieties, sadness, frustration and stress that we all face to different degrees in our daily lives. For young minds, reining in sorrow, and anxieties arising out of study losds, competitive examinations, and family discord can be very damaging. Before hitting the bed, it’s essential for the mind to be naturally relaxed without the use of medicines. Music, especially that are soft on the ears, acts like harmless and powerful tools to heal the scars in the mind, and allow the brain to fall into slumber mode. Thus, lixstening to soft music brings in positivity to our lives in different ways.
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Text II
Beating the Odds
The musical accomplishments of composer Ludwig van Beethoven have been all the more remarkable for the fact that he lost his hearing ability from an early age. He developed the symptoms of tinnitus, a constant sound of ringing in his ears that made it difficult for him to hear. He is compared to Mozart for his genius, and is considered the most eminent musician after Mozart. Although his formal education never went beyond the elementary level, he trained in music under Joseph Haydn. He has always been acclaimed as a brilliant piano maestro.
His father and grandfather were the court musicians of a German prince. Young Ludwig was often made to perform for his father’s drinking companions in the middle of the night, and was even beaten if he protested. For the first thirty years of his life, Beethoven could listen to and play music effortlessly. As a result, he understood sounds of musical instruments and the pitch of the singing voices. He knew the harmony between music and singing before he became completely deaf. His deafness was not sudden, but a gradual decline. This slow process of losing his hearing activated his mind to imagine how his compositions would sound like. When he became completely deaf, he started to observe the vibrations of the piano. The observations helped him realise that he could not hear the high notes of the piano. To be able to hear his own compositions, he sawed off the legs of his piano. The piano touched the floor, and Beethoven would press his ear to the floor, banging the piano keys to listen to the high notes in his compositions. The most significant aspect of Beethoven’s character was that he did not give up. With a brave heart, he confronted the greatest challenge beating the odds: to succeed despite not having a good chance of succeeding a musician can face, and continued living his dream of composing music. Deafness could not deter him from achieving the pinnacle of musical success. He fought against the greatest obstacle and won. His quality of ‘never giving up’ strengthened him. It made him come to terms with his deafness in a dynamic and constructive way. These qualities led him to become a famous composer.
1. Read the following statements and write true (T) or
false (F).
(a) Although he composed a lot of music, Beethoven never learned to play music himself. F
(b) His deafness was not a sudden loss of hearing. T
(c) He composed most of his music early in his life, before he became deaf. T
(d) His musical skills were compared to Haydn. F
(e) Beethoven cut down the legs of his piano to hear the notes of the keys from the floor. T
2. How could Beethoven compose music despite his loss of hearing?
Ans .. Beethoven had a burning passion for learning music through the use of piano. Born with mind-boggling talent, he defied the worst odds of life. The crucial bodily organ for a musicoian – the ears – began to fail him gradually. Listening capacity became weaker with age. By 30, he could somehow manage, but after that, he became fully deaf. He was not detered. He pursued his passion for music ever more doggedly, using his body to tune in to the vibrations of the piano. At some stage, he chopped off the legs of his piano so that its vibrations could hit the floor more forcefully. To catch the vibrations of the piano’s sound, Beethoven, glued his ear to the floor so zas to catch the vibrations emanating from it. It was very xstrenuous effort that spoke of Beegthoven’s astounding zeal to further advance his composing skills.
3. What realisation made Beethoven continue his passion for music with more determination?
Ans .. For Beethoven, deafness had been long time coming. He knew the day will come when he would not be able to hezar anything. Such a backdrop made Beethoven stubbornly dedicated to the task of ever improving his composing skills. He activated his mind to imagine how his compositions would sound like. A time arrived when he became totally deaf. Bereft of the ability to listen to musical sounds, he started to observe the vibrations of the piano. He succeeded to make up for his lost hearing ability. This non-conventional approach instilled renewed optimism and passion in his mind. Plunging into the world of music with rare dedication, Beethoven convinced himself that he could defy his hearing infirmity through the use of vibrations from the piano. Thus, Beethoven continued in his success path unhindered.
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4. Which word in the following is similar in meaning to ‘skillful’ (para 1)?
(a) brilliant
(b) masterly
(c) talented
(d) genius
Ans.. masterly
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Text III
Read the poem carefully and answer the question that follows.
The Solitide of Reaper
Behold her, single in the field,
Yon solitary Highland lass!
Reaping and singing by herself;
Stop here, or gently pass!
Alone she cuts and binds the grain,
And sings a melancholy strain;
O listen! for the Vale profound
Is overflowing with the sound.
No Nightingale did ever chaunt
More welcome notes to weary bands
Of travellers in some shady haunt,
Among Arabian sands:
A voice so thrilling ne’er was heard
In spring-time from the Cuckoo-bird,
Breaking the silence of the seas
Among the farthest Hebrides.
Will no one tell me what she sings?
Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow
For old, unhappy, far-off things,
And battles long ago:
Or is it some more humble lay,
Familiar matter of to-day?
Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain,
That has been, and may be again?
profound: very great or
intense
chaunt: old British spelling
of chant; a repeated rhythmic
phrase
Whate’er the theme, the Maiden sang
As if her song could have no ending;
I saw her singing at her work,
And o’er the sickle bending;
I listened, motionless and still;
And, as I mounted up the hill,
The music in my heart I bore,
Long after it was heard no more.
—William Wordsworth
1. Complete the summary of the poem given below with a suitable word/phrase in each blank.
The poet finds a young Highland girl who
(a) reaps alone and sings to herself. The poet asks us to listen carefully, because the whole (b) valley (vale) is filled with the overflowing sound of her singing. He asks us to either (c) stop and listen to her sad song, or gently pass by so as not to disturb her. He goes on to say that no nightingale ever sang a more (d) melodious song to bands of tired (e) travellers in the Arabian Desert. The poet asserts that the beauty of the girl’s singing exceeds that of the cuckoo’s in the (f) spring time. Her singing is also the only thing which (g) breaks the silence of the valley.
The poet tries to (h) understand what the girl is singing about. He is unable to get the words of the song clearly. He thinks that perhaps she is singing about old sorrows or (i) battles fought long ago, or more routine concerns of life or even some (j) familial old sorrows which she has endured and may endure again. At the end, he quietly walks away with a feeling that he may never be able to find out the (k) factors responsible of her never-ending song. Nevertheless, he asserts that her singing has captured his imagination so much that he will
(l) treasure the music in his heart long after it is heard no more.
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Vocabulary
1. The following words and phrases occur in the given passages and poem. Given below are the words and their meanings. Match each meaning with the word.
Text 1
relieves .. to free from anxiety, fear, pain etc.
endorphins …… substances produced by the brain that have painkilling and tranquillisingeffects on the body
exhaustion .. tiredness
vitality … power to live and grow
rejuvinate … to restore to a former state; make fresh or new again
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Text 2
prodigy … a person, especially a child or young person, having extraordinary talent or ability
persistent …constantly repeated
virtuoso …a person who excels in musical technique or execution
deterioration .. to make or become worse or inferior in character, quality, value, etc.
sawed … to cut or divide
obstacle … something that obstructs or hinders progress
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Text 3
behold tired
yon girl
lass look, see
melancholy climbed
vale expressing sorrow
strain causing sadness
weary that
plaintive melody
mounted valley
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UNIT 2 29
2. Word search
Look at the grid given here.
p i a n o l a b b c c d
a e b c y p r a t i t g
s n s r t a b l a r o d
i o e a l s e l u d t h
t h o b r e a m a p a o
a p d s a r o d p n n l
r o t h r e d e f g j a
a l v e t n r i u t o k
l y e h a a u p u n g i
c x e n n i m f d n t p
l h n a h p e t u l f g
e h a i m o n i u m j o
A. Find the names of the musical instruments in the
grid. They can be found in different directions:
up-down, down-up, left-right, right-left and
diagonally.
Name the musical instruments.
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B. Use the pictures as clues. Write the appropriate name
of the instrument in each blank given below. One has
been done as an example.
(a) Evelyn Glennie is a Xylophone player.
(b) Zakir Hussain plays the _________________.
(c) Hariprasad Chaurasia plays the _________________.
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30 Words and Expressions 1
(d) V. Doraiswamy Iyenger plays the __________________.
(e) Bismillah Khan plays the ____________________.
(f) Amjad Ali Khan plays the _____________________.
Grammar
1. In the lesson ‘The Sound of Music’ you have read that
‘adjectives’ can be used before a noun and after the
verb ‘be’.
Example:
The book is interesting. The interesting book.
The table is round. The round table.
But ‘adjectives’ can have many forms.
Examples:
1. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was
longer and broader.
2. Ustad Bismillah Khan was awarded India’s highest
civilian award.
3. My mother is the most beautiful woman in the world.
Here the adjectives longer and broader refer to the
comparative degree; and highest and most beautiful refer to
the superlative degree.
‘Er’ is used for the comparative degree for shorter words
and ‘more’ is used for longer words.
Example:
Let’s go to the local market. The vegetables are cheaper
there. But in Supermarket these are more expensive.
A. Now fill in the blanks with appropriate comparative
adjectives.
(a) He was not audible. His voice was not loud. Can you
request him to be a bit ____________________(loud)?
(b) There are many peaks in the Himalayas. Everest is
_____________________________ (high) peak in India.
(c) With 9 degree Celsius it was colder yesterday, and
with 4 degree Celsius it is ___________ (cold) today.
(d) Our police is the____________________ (reliable) in
the country.
(e) My sister is_____________________(serious) than me.
Commonly
misunderstood phrases
For all intents and
purposes
This phrase means for all
practical purposes.
Sneak peek
Often mistaken as ‘sneak
peak’.
This phrase means to take
an early look at something.
Fun fact
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Unit 2 31
(f) Your dance performance is not good. It can be
__________________________ (good) with practice.
(g) Living in the countryside is _______________________
(peaceful) than living in a town.
(h) My father is _____________________________________
(important) person in my life.
B. Fill in the blanks with appropriate superlative degree
‘most’/‘est’.
(a) With so many vehicles, the roads of Delhi have
become___________________ (crowded) ones in India.
(b) Yesterday was_____________________ (cold) day of
the month.
(c) The book is interesting. It is_____________________
(interesting) book I have ever read.
(d) This hotel is cheaper. But that one
is__________________________ (cheap) in the town.
(e) _______________________ (old) member of my family
is my grandfather.
(f) Lata Mangeshkar has___________________________
(melodious) voice in the country.
2. In the same lesson, use of ‘to-verb’ has been explained.
Let’s do some more activities on this. Join the two sets
of sentences given below, and make one sentence. The
first one is done for you.
1. ‘May I help you?’
‘Okay’
He offered to help her.
2. ‘Let’s go to the Old Age Home in the evening.’
‘That’s fine.’
She arranged ___________________ to the Old Age
Home in the evening.
3. ‘What would you like to eat?’, asked Shivani’s
mother.
‘I don’t have an appetite’, replied Shivani.
Shivani refused _________________________________.
4. ‘Post the letter. Don’t forget.’
Don’t forget_____________________________________.
Literally
Literally is often misused to
express intensity when in
fact, it is a word that implies
something is completely
true. Don’t use literally unless
something is true.
Fun fact
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32 Words and Expressions 1
5. ‘Can you participate in the music concert?’
‘It’s fine with me.’
She agreed ________________________________ in the
music concert.
Editing
Some words have been omitted in the paragraph given
below. Write the appropriate words and rewrite the
paragraph.
The following words were written/the tomb of/Anglican
Bishop of Westminster Abbey:
When I was young/free and my imagination had no
limits, I dreamed/changing the world. As I grew older and
wiser, I discovered/world would not change, so I shortened
my sights somewhat and decided/change only my country.
But it too seemed immovable. As I grew/my twilight
years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled/changing only
my family, those closest to me, but alas, I couldn’t.
And now as I lay/ my deathbed, I suddenly realise: If
I had only changed myself first, then/ an example I could
have changed my family.
From their inspiration and encouragement, I could then
have been able/better my country and, who knows, I may
have even changed the world.
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A homophone is a word that
sounds the same as another
word but differs in meaning
and/or how it’s spelled.
Examples
cereal – serial
morning – mourning
profit – prophet
stationary – stationery
Fun fact
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Unit 2 33
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Listening
A passage on the healing aspect of music is given below.
You need to listen to the passage read by your teacher/
classmate carefully and answer the question that follows.
You may listen to the passage twice, if required.
Music as a Therapy
“Rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places
of the soul”, rightly said by Plato. Music is often referred
to as ‘food’ for the soul due to the several benefits we can
derive from experiencing it.
Music can be pleasure for some, and a way to relax
for others. It also motivates and energises listeners. Music
is, indeed, a universal language, which can bring nations
together and unite people with different faiths as it touches
one’s soul. In the mainstream, music is mainly known for
its entertainment quotient, but the Indian culture also talks
about the healing effects of music through ‘Raga Chikitsa’.
Raga Chikitsa has helped in reviving an ancient healing
practice known as Nada Yoga.
Nada is a musical sound, which is believed to have
curative effects on the body and soul of all creatures.
Consequently, its power is therapeutic and is used in curing
diseases. Medical research has found music therapy to aid
patients in pain management. It is not surprising, as music
affects the body and mind significantly.
One experiences positive energy by listening to music.
Music lifts one from clouds of desolation. Rhythms,
desolate: giving an
impression of bleak and
dismal emptiness
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34 Words and Expressions 1
Notes particularly upbeat music, helps one distract oneself from
situations that cause stress and brightens one’s mood. Music
lowers anxiety levels, relaxes mind and brings optimism. It
is said that listening to soft, sedative music once a day can
help overcome depression.
Music therapy finds its traces in mythology. The story of
Hippocrates, the Greek father of medicine dates back to 400
B.C. He is known to have used music to cure his patients.
This therapy also aids stroke victims to heal at a faster
rate, since it increases the patient’s emotional comforts and
motivates them to move towards the path of recovery. On
the other hand, adolescents, too, are benefitted by music
in terms of emotional, social and psychological well being.
Music is a force that purifies beings from within.
According to you, which FOUR of the following statements
are true?
(a) Nada Yoga treats diseases through Raga Chikitsa.
(b) Music is a universal language that reaches souls.
(c) Music therapy dates back to 400 B.C.
(d) Hippocrates played music to treat the patients.
(e) Upbeat tunes help stroke victims recover faster.
(f) Music helps adolescents to discover their identity.
Speaking
Two students need to come to the front of the class for a role
play. One plays the role of Thyagaraja, a famous singer, and
the other the role of the interviewer, Rohit, a Radio Jockey (RJ).
The interview is about the singer’s initiatives in helping
people through music.
RJ Rohit : Do you think music has any effect on
people’s lives?
Thyagaraja : Yes, I believe music surely has a
positive effect on people’s lives. It helps
when you are stressed, or depressed
about something. Apart from these,
music is a good way of relaxing and
feeling good about life.
RJ Rohit : What, according to you, could be the
influence of music on young children?
sedative: promoting calm or
inducing sleep
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Unit 2 35
Thyagaraja : Now-a-days, young children get
distracted easily. Music helps them in
concentrating on what they are doing.
RJ Rohit : How does music help patients?
Thyagaraja : Listening to music relaxes patients. The
process of healing becomes faster when
they are in a relaxed state of mind.
RJ Rohit : Thank you very much. You are doing a
great job for the humankind.
Writing
1. Listening to music has become a part of our lives for
many reasons. We listen to different types of music
today.
Discuss in pairs the following question:
• Is the traditional music of a country more important
than its contemporary music?
Write your views in about 50–60 words.
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2. The traits of a musician are given in the box overleaf.
Use these and write a short biography in about 100–150
words. You may collect more information from the
Internet, books in the library and other sources.
Adjectives ending in ING
Used to describe something
that causes an emotion.
-ing
Tiring
Confusing
Relaxing
Satisfying
Shocking
Fun fact
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36 Words and Expressions 1
A. R. Rahman: Indian composer, singer, songwriter, music
producer, musician and philanthropist; born in Chennai
on 6 January 1967; graduated from Trinity College,
Oxford University; famous in integrating Indian classical
music with electronic music, world music and traditional
orchestral arrangements; recipient of the Padmashri and
the Padma Vibhushan awards; two Oscars and a Golden
Globe; a notable humanitarian and philanthropist; donates
and raises money for a number of causes and charities.
Biographical Sketch
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By and large
Mistaken as ‘by in large’.
This phrase is used when
discussing a subject in a
general sense.
Fun fact
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Unit 2 37
Project
1. Sit in groups of four. Each of you find information on the
folk music of your state and of one of the neighbouring
states. You may seek information from the community,
library, Internet and other sources. Now, ask questions
to each other in the group to complete the table below.
Names of the folk music
States where they are
performed
Any instrument/s used
(you may illustrate the
instruments)
Performers
2. Prepare a report in your group and present it to the
class. Then, share your suggestions in the class to
popularise the folk music in your community.
3. ‘The Sound of Music’ is a biographical piece about
Evelyn Glennie, a famous percussionist, who listened
to sound without hearing it. Collect information about
people/children who have overcome their physical
barriers and have achieved success in their lives.
Lie/Lay
These two words are often
misused for the other.
Lie means to rest on a
surface while lay means to
put something in place.
Fun fact
percussion: musical
instruments that one plays
by hitting them with hand
or a stick, for example,
drums
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Unit 3
The story of ‘The Little Girl’, in B