Read the following passage carefully:

1. Bubble wrap is a flexible transparent plastic material used for packing fragile items. It was invented by two engineers Al Fielding and Swiss inventor Marc Chavannes in Hawthorne, N.J. in 1957. However both of them were not trying to make a product to be used as packaging material. In fact they were trying to create textured wallpaper. They started out by sealing two shower curtains together in such a way that it would capture air bubbles which would make the textured appearance for their wallpaper. But this wallpaper idea didn’t sell too well.

2. Not to be deterred, they then set about finding another use for their product. The alternate use they came up with was to use it as greenhouse insulation. While bubble wrap by itself does create somewhat of an insulating effect, this idea didn’t become popular either.

3. It was three years after the initial creation of Bubble Wrap that Frederick W. Bowers, a marketer at Sealed Air, which makes Bubble Wrap, finally came up with the perfect use for their product. On October the 5, 1959, IBM announced their new 1401 variable word length computer. Bowers got the idea that Bubble Wrap could be used as a good packaging material to protect the computer while it was being shipped. He then pitched the idea to IBM and demonstrated Bubble Wrap’s protective abilities. His demonstration went over well and IBM began purchasing Bubble Wrap to protect their 1401 and other fragile products they sold and shipped.

4. One of the downsides to Bubble Wrap has always been the space it takes up during shipping and storage, for customers who are just buying the Bubble Wrap. In order to get around this problem, one of the dreams of the original inventors was that they’d someday be able to create a Bubble Wrap that customer could self inflate, as needed.

5. While originally being used primarily for packaging for electronics equipment, today the vast majority of Bubble Wrap made is used for food packaging. Because bubble wrap makes a satisfying popping sound when compressed and ruptured, it is often used as a source of amusement.

Fill in the blanks:

(a) Bubble wrap was, at first, thought by the two engineers to be useful to ____________________.

(b) The engineers were trying to create textured wallpaper by ____________________.

(c) The alternate use of their product was ____________________.

(d) IBM announced their new 1401 variable word length computer on ____________________.

(e) IBM purchased Bubble Wrap ____________________.

(f) What was the original use of Bubble Wrap? ____________________.

(g) The word which means the same as ‘exhibition’ (para 3) is ____________________.

(h) The word which means the same as ‘cracking’ (para 5) is ____________________.

Read the following passage carefully:

1. Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process. One of the greatest gifts any of us can ever receive is the gift of listening. It is also one of the greatest gifts we can ever give. Unfortunately, it appears to be a lost art. We live in a world where everyone is talking but few are listening. What often passes for listening is simply one person pausing to collect their thoughts for their next soliloquy.

2. Hearing refers to the sounds that you hear, whereas listening requires more than that: it requires focus. Listening means paying attention not only to the story, but how it is told, the use of language and voice, and how the other person uses his or her body. In other words, it means being aware of both verbal and non-verbal messages. Your ability to listen effectively depends on the degree to which you perceive and understand these messages.

3. Listening is a difficult task. Like every skill, the more you do it, the better you get. Listening can be developed through practice, or lost if not used regularly. Good listeners focus on what they are hearing. They pause to think about what they’ve heard before responding. They ask questions because they want to know the answers, not just to keep the conversation going

4. So often, we are distracted with other things. We try to listen while continuing to work on the computer or watch television. To be fully present means we eliminate these distractions and focus exclusively on the other person. It takes great effort to be fully in the moment, leaning forward, with your ears—and heart—open. Words are only part of the communication. Sometimes we need to experience the other person’s feelings to really understand. We need to listen with our heart as well as our mind. We must repeat back what the other person has said. When we do this—and do it accurately—we communicate that we understand. It also gives us an opportunity to re-calibrate our understanding if we have misunderstood something.

Plenty of people are good talkers. Few are good listeners. If you develop the latter skill, you will find yourself invited into amazing conversations that wouldn’t otherwise happen.

Answer the following questions briefly:

(a) What is listening? Why does it appear to be a lost art?

(b) What is the difference between hearing and listening?

(c) State any two qualities of a good listener.

(d) How can we ensure good listening?

Read the following passage carefully:

1. Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the communication process. One of the greatest gifts any of us can ever receive is the gift of listening. It is also one of the greatest gifts we can ever give. Unfortunately, it appears to be a lost art. We live in a world where everyone is talking but few are listening. What often passes for listening is simply one person pausing to collect their thoughts for their next soliloquy.

2. Hearing refers to the sounds that you hear, whereas listening requires more than that: it requires focus. Listening means paying attention not only to the story, but how it is told, the use of language and voice, and how the other person uses his or her body. In other words, it means being aware of both verbal and non-verbal messages. Your ability to listen effectively depends on the degree to which you perceive and understand these messages.

3. Listening is a difficult task. Like every skill, the more you do it, the better you get. Listening can be developed through practice, or lost if not used regularly. Good listeners focus on what they are hearing. They pause to think about what they’ve heard before responding. They ask questions because they want to know the answers, not just to keep the conversation going

4. So often, we are distracted with other things. We try to listen while continuing to work on the computer or watch television. To be fully present means we eliminate these distractions and focus exclusively on the other person. It takes great effort to be fully in the moment, leaning forward, with your ears—and heart—open. Words are only part of the communication. Sometimes we need to experience the other person’s feelings to really understand. We need to listen with our heart as well as our mind. We must repeat back what the other person has said. When we do this—and do it accurately—we communicate that we understand. It also gives us an opportunity to re-calibrate our understanding if we have misunderstood something.

Plenty of people are good talkers. Few are good listeners. If you develop the latter skill, you will find yourself invited into amazing conversations that wouldn’t otherwise happen.

Do as directed:

(a) The antonym of ‘interpret’ is:

(i) refer

(ii) defer

(iii) prefer

(iv) infer

(b) The word ‘soliloquy’ means:

(i) monologue

(ii) satisfaction

(iii) dialogue

(iv) dissatisfaction

(c) The word ‘eliminate’ means:

(i) eradicate

(ii) predicate

(iii) dedicate

(iv) terminate

(d) The word ‘calibrate’ means:

(i) pretend

(ii) amend

(iii) suspend

(iv) mend

Drinking water is becoming a rare commodity. Industrial development is filling our rivers, seas and oceans with toxic pollutants which are a major threat to human health. You are deeply saddened to see water pollution as an appalling problem, which is powerful enough to lead the world on a path of destruction. Write a letter to the Editor of Express News to make the public aware about the causes of water pollution and also suggest the measures to prevent water pollution. (About 100 -120 words)

You may use the clues given below:

• Causes of Water Pollution

• industrial waste

• sewage and waste water

• mining activities

• accidental oil leakage

• burning of fossil fuels

• urban development

♦ Suggestive measures

• prevent river water to get polluted

• treatment of wastes before discharge

• treatment of drainage water

• routine cleaning

• self hygiene

• public Awareness

Nowhere in the world is found such a beauty, different and diversified climate, flora, fauna, religions, languages, dialects, dressing patterns, life style and rituals, like India. The Indian tourism and hospitality industry has emerged as one of the key drivers of growth among the services sector in India. Using the ideas from the unit ‘Travel and Tourism’ and your own ideas, write an article in about 100-120 words for your school magazine offering suggestions for promoting tourist industry. Give a suitable title.

You may use the clues given below:

• indirectly generates more employment and helps to raise our economy as foreign money will flow in

• development of infrastructure to meet the present and future needs of tourists

• starting overseas offices at different countries to promote India as a tourism destination

• try to provide best of the services in Air India and in Indian Rail

• start different packages for various destinations to attract more tourists