This is an English language lesson for the students of Std VI of the CBSE scheme of syllabus. This fiction is a really good reading material. This slide show is dedicated to my students at Navabharath Model School at Kakkanvchery and my students at Navabharat Central School, Valakkandy
Global Lehigh Strategic Initiatives (without descriptions)
The snakes secret lesson 1
1. Lesson 1
Detailed Discussion
On the lesson with meanings of tough words, exercise
work outs, questions and answers
Navabharath Model School
Kakkanchery
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The Snake’s Secret
2. Lesson 1
The Snake’s Secret
Detailed Discussion
On the lesson with meanings of tough words, exercise
work outs, questions and answers
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3. Connect
This section is intended to help you establish a clear
connection with the topic being discussed in the
lesson.
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4. Connect
When you hear the word ‘secret’ what do you feel?
How would you feel if someone found out your
secret?
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5. Establish a clear connection with the topic
of the lesson by thinking on these lines
When you hear the word ‘secret’ what do you feel?
How would you feel if someone found out your
secret?
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6. When you hear the word ‘secret’ what
do you feel?
Perhaps you may hold something as secret; you will
never tell it to anyone.
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7. Some facts which one person or a small group of
persons only know, most others don’t know.
Such facts are called secrets.
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Secret
9. Secret of your success- you’ll feel proud;
Secret deed you’ve done- you’ll feel ashamed.
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How would you feel if someone found out
your secret?
10. We’ll establish a connection with the main point
discussed in this lesson- The Snake’s Secret
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By thinking on the factor secret
11. The word reflect means:
Think seriously upon,
Peruse deeply,
Engage yourself in a contemplative exploration on the
subject
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Reflect
12. If you are to share your secret with someone, who
would that person be?
Why would you share it with him?
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Reflect
13. Your mother, father, brother, sister, teacher, closest
friend, a stranger, no one?
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If you are to share your secret with
someone, who would that person be?
14. Why would you share it with him?
You believe him the most,
You believe he can give you a help,
He’ll never tell anyone else about it,
He should know about it,
He is an expert in the topic.
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15. Imagine
Imagine means:
Think creatively
Use your problem solving abilities
Think innovatively
Think constructively
so that you can achieve a better understanding of the topic.
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16. Connect, Reflect, Imagine
Are the three tools
You have to use
to have a better understanding
of the lesson being discussed.
It’s an activity oriented learning exercise.
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17. Word Bank
(please don’t confuse it with the world bank)
Distressed: unhappy; upset
Wee: very small, (wee hours of the day)
Wily: cunning, cleverly (an act with a malicious intention)
Entrusted: trusted someone with an important job
(ringing the
first bell denoting the start of the working hours is being entrusted with the peon of our school)
Succulent: juicy and delicious
Coil: wrap around, cover, twirl around
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19. This is the story of a mythical bird
from heaven; Holowaka, who is
sent by God with a secret for men
and women on Earth.
Is he able to keep the secret?
Read on and find out.
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20. After God created men and women,
He discovered that as they grew old
they suffered a great deal of
discomfort
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21. Not only did their bones grow weak
and hair turn grey, they also lost the
strength to work and defend
themselves. God was greatly
distressed by this and decided to
help mankind remain young, strong
and healthy.
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22. So, He called Holowaka, his
messenger, and said, “Holowaka, I
want you to fly to Earth with my
message to mankind.
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23. Tell them, when they find
themselves growing old, all they
have to do is slip out of their skin
and they will be young again.
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24. But remember to talk to no one on
your way. If other creatures learn
this secret, it will be theirs alone.
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25. So Holowaka promised not to speak
to anyone or stop for anything on
the way and set flight to Earth. He
flew for days and days and finally
reached Earth.
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26. By this time, Holowakas wings were
aching and his stomach was
rumbling with hunger. “If I can’t get
a wee morsel to eat, then I can go
on for some more time” he said to
himself.
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27. But he couldn’t find any food.
When he was almost faint with
hunger, he smelt meat. He went in
search of it and found a snake
feasting on a dead antelope.
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28. Holowaka was delighted at the sight
of food. “Will you be kind enough
to share the meat with me; dear
snake,” he asked meekly.
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29. But the snake was a wily old
creature. He knew Holowaka was
the messenger carrying an
important secret that God had
entrusted him with.
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30. And he also knew that the secret
would be only for men’s ears. Now
if the snake hated any creature, it
was man.
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31. For as soon as man saw a snake,
even a harmless one that was
crawling along thinking about its
own affairs, he would take a stick
and beat it to death.
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32. The snake had lost many a loved
one in such a manner. So the snake
sucked on a succulent piece of flesh
and asked Holowaka; “what will you
give me in return.”
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33. Holowaka looked around helplessly.
What could he give the snake? Then
he thought of his tail which was
long and colourful like a rainbow.
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34. He said; “I can give a feather from
my tail.” The snake snorted and
said, “what would I do with a
feather from your tail? Wear it on
my head? I want something else.”
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35. “I can teach you to fly,” Holowaka
offered. “Pah,” the snake spat. “No
thank you, I’m happy being on the
ground.”
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36. Poor Holowaka could no longer
bear the hunger. So he thought
hard and as he sat wondered, he
felt that with every passing moment
he would die of hunger.
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37. Then he was overcome by a tearing
rage at God. “How could he send
me on a mission without providing
enough food to eat on the way?
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38. All this is His fault,” he said himself
and having comforted thus, he
cleared his throat and said in a low
voice, snake, listen, I am entrusted
with a great secret.
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39. This will change the life of mankind,
but now I am prepared to tell you
the secret in exchange of food.’
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40. The snake stared at the bird and
then, unable to hide his curiosity,
hissed, ‘Go on tell me…’
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41. But Holowaka was clever enough to
realize the snake might trick him.
“You have to believe me and I will
tell you the secret only after I have
eaten.
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42. Besides I am too weak to speak. I
need to eat first” he told the snake.
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43. The snake said “ come to me. You
will eat, but I will coil you in my
clutches so that you don’t fly away
after you’ve eaten.
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44. Holowaka agreed and let himself
be entrapped in the snakes coils.
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45. When he had eaten as much as his
belly could hold, Holowaka said,
‘God said to me to tell man that
when they felt weak and old, all
that they had to do was to slip out
of their skin…”
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46. The snake was eager to see if the
secret worked for him too. Slowly
and carefully the snake slipped out
of his skin and became youthful
again.
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47. Meanwhile when Holowaka felt
the coils of the snake loosen
around him, he seized his chance
and quickly escaped to Heaven.
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48. Since the snake had heard God’s
secret first, the secret has
remained with snakes and from
then on, when they feel
themselves growing old, they just
slip out of their skins and become
young once again.
Anitha Nair
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50. As human beings grew old they became weak and
tired, they suffered a great deal of discomfort.
This was the poor plight of human beings that
worried God.
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1. What plight of
people worried God?
51. God entrusted Holowaka with the task of delivering a
secret to retain health and happiness to the mankind.
God instructed him not to stop anywhere or tell anyone
else, because the first person who hear the secret only
will have the power of using it.
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2. What work did God entrust
Holowaka with? What instruction
did God give him?
52. What happened by the time Holowaka
reached Earth?
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Holowaka flew days in and days out, and when he
reached earth finally, his wings were aching, his stomach
was rumbling with hunger. He felt that he could not move
any further without eating something.
53. When he was about to faint with hunger he smelt
meat. He saw a snake feasting on a dead antelope.
This is where and how Holowaka found food.
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4. Where did he find food?
54. The snake was a wily old creature. He already knew
that Holowaka was the messenger of God to earth
and he carried an important secret. That’s why he
wanted something in return for food.
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5. Why did the snake want
something in return for food?
55. 6. Was God able to provide a
solution for old age to human
beings?
He was not able to give a solution for old age and
associated worries to human beings, because it was
confided to the snakes by Holowaka- his messenger to
earth on his way to meet human beings.
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56. 7. Read the following
questions and answer the
questions.
“This will change the life of mankind, but now I am
prepared to tell you the secret in exchange for food”
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57. a). Who says this to whom?
These words were spoken by Holowaka, the
messenger of God to earth to the snake when they
met each other on Holowaka’s arrivalbabuappat@gmail.com
to Earth.
58. b). What is the secret?
When one grows old, weak and distressed they
have to slip off their skin so that they will
become young again. babuappat@gmail.com
59. c). Why would it change the
life of mankind?
Man will never have to grow old, weak or distressed.
So it’s a change from present sorrowful condition of
mankind.
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60. d). Did the speaker do the
right thing by telling the
secret?
No, the speaker didn’t obey God, but the fact remains
that if he had not got anything to eat at least by then
he would have died starving.babuappat@gmail.com
61. Think and Answer
This section is to help the students to think
independently and come out with an answer. So it will
impart the power of imagination and free thinking to
them.
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62. 1. Which of the creatures that
God created was He fond of the
most? How do we know this?
Human beings believe God likes them the most. Since
he sent His messenger to Earth to help the human
race we can believe so.
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63. 2. Why was Holowaka told not to
speak to anyone on the way?
The secret Holowaka is carrying is useful only to the
first person who hears it from him. This was why he
was asked not to speak anyone else.
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64. 3. If the snake had not slipped
out of its skin what would have
happened to Holowaka?
He may not understand whether the secret works or
not. Snake slipped out of its skin and became young
again, so Holowaka was convinced of its efficacy.
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65. 4. Write a brief character sketch
of the snake. (Keep in mind his
feelings towards man) ?
Human beings whenever they see a snake will take a stick
and beet it to death even if it’s a really harmless one. So
snake hated the whole mankind. The snake is a wily old
creature. He would expect something in return to each
help he does to others.
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66. 4. Was Holowaka reliable?
Apparently he is not. Even then he has done it
because he couldn’t bear the hunger any longer and
he was going to die starving. So he wanted food very
badly, he tried many other offers to the snake, but the
snake was not agreeing to it.
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67. 6. Was Holowaka simple or
intelligent? Why do you think
so?
Holowaka was simple, he has fell to the wily nature of
the snake. He was very much hungry and his wings
ached. So we cannot say that he was cunning.
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68. Create
Listen to some sentences read out from the story in
different ways. Listen carefully and say what
tone/mood they indicate. As the sentences are read
out, write the correct sentence number against each
option.
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69. Mockery
What would I do with your tail, wear it on my
head?
“Pah, No thank you, I’ll be happy being on the
ground.”
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70. Persuasion
Will you be kind enough to share the meat with
me, dear snake?
“Go on, tell me”
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71. Suggestion
“Come to me, you’ll eat , but I will have to coil
you in my clutches so that you won’t fly away
after you’ve eaten”
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72. Order
Holowaka I want you to fly to earth with
my message to mankind.
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73. Request
Will you be kind enough to share the meat
with me dear snake?
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75. Talk Time
Holowaka returns to Heaven and breaks the news of his
failure to deliver God’s message to the mankind. God is very
angry; He starts shouting at Holowaka. Holowaka, on his part
blames God for not providing him with food. And the
argument continues.
One of you will play Holowaka and another will play God.
Enact this scene for your class. Make it as interesting as
possible.
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76. P h ra s e s f ro m t h e l e s s o n
T i c k o n t h e c o r re c t m e a n i n g o f t h e p h ra s e .
Faint with hunger:
See something faint
Feeling faint because of intense hunger
Feeling full
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77. S et f l i g ht to
Boarded a flight
Began a journey
Started flying to
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78. Te a r i n g ra ge
Tearing up things around you
Shedding tears
great anger
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79. R u m b l i n g w i t h h u n ge r
Sound of rumbling of thunder
Feeling very angry
feeling very hungry
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80. F i l l i n t h e b l a n ks
1. As winter approaches birds set flight to tropical lands
2. He never interferes in other people’s work. He likes minding his own.
3. By the time we reached the mountain peak we’re faint with hunger
4. When the boys lost the match the coach was in a tearing rage
5. The children came into the house after the mach with their stomach
rumbling with hunger
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81. A n s we rs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
set flight to
minding his own.
faint with hunger
tearing rage
rumbling with hunger
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82. Language Ladder
Some passages are given in the following slides. Write
it down neatly in your note books. Underline the
following parts of speeches as instructed.
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83. Nouns in Red
Adjectives in blue
Verbs in green
Adverbs in yellow
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Instructions:
84. The Passage 1
‘God sent me to tell man that when they felt weak
and old, all that they had to do was to slip out of their
skin…’ The snake was eager to see if the secret
worked for him too. He slipped out of his skin and
became youthful again. Meanwhile. When Holowaka
felt the coils of the snake loosen around him, he
seized his chance and quickly escaped to heaven.
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85. Answer Key
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‘God sent me to tell man that when they felt weak and old, all
that they had to do was to slip out of their skin…’ The snake
was eager to see if the secret worked for him too. He slipped
out of his skin and became youthful again. Meanwhile, when
Holowaka felt the coils of the snake loosen around him, he
seized his chance and quickly escaped to heaven.
86. The Passage 2
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People collect different things. Some are particular in
what they collect. It could be old idols, locks, stamps,
posters, letters or greeting cards. One old lady
collected bags- bags of all kinds, from small bags to
large ones.
87. Answer Key
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People collect different things. Some are particular in
what they collect. It could be old
idols, locks, stamps, posters, letters or greeting cards.
One old lady collected bags- bags of all kinds, from
small bags to large ones.
88. Auxiliary Verbs
They are also called helping verbs; are used along
with the main verb to form tenses and to express
certain situations. The most common auxiliary verbs
are: be, have and do.
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89. Read the following sentences
•I am entrusted with a great secret.
•He is coming got meet me
•He has lost the car keys
•Where do you stay?
All the above sentences have two verbs. Am, is, has and do are auxiliary
verbs. And constructed, coming, lost and stay are the main verbs.
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90. Auxiliary verbs can also be shortened. You have learnt
that contractions use an apostrophe (‘) to indicate
missing letters. For e.g.:
Word
I am
I have
You are
He is
I had
They are
It is
Contraction
I’m
I’ve
You’re
He’s
I’d
They’re
It’s
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91. Negative Contractions
When we make contractions using not, these are
negative contractions, for e.g.:
•He isn’t ready to listen to me (is not)
•I haven’t finished this story yet (have not)
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•Holowaka didn’t trust the snake (did not)
92. Rewrite these sentences with negative
contractions
We have not decided what gift to buy for mother,
They had not cancelled the trip to Trichy last week.
The snake was not ready to help Holowaka
The children are not playing in the park
It is not right to break promises
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
93. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
We haven’t decided what gift to buy for mother,
They hadn’t cancelled the trip to Trichy last week.
The snake wasn’t ready to help Holowaka
The children aren’t playing in the park
It isn’t right to break promises
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Answers
94. Extend
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Sometimes we rewrite a story or poem in brief, highlighting
only the central idea and the main point of action. In
order to do this, we first write down the main idea of each
paragraph using phrases/short sentences. We then put
these together in a paragraph form using suitable
conjunctions and connectors.
95. Rearrange the phrases and write them as complete
sentences to form a paragraph that will tell us the
story of how snakes came to shed their skin
Holowaka
God
• Snake is eating an
antelope
• That’s how snakes
came to shed their
skin
• Holowaka eats and
then tells the secret to
the snake
• Holowaka flies for
many days and is
hungry and tired
• Wants snake to share
the food but the snake
wants to know the
secret
• Holowaka escapes but
secret remains with
the snake
• God unhappy with
people’s discomfort at
their old age
• Calls Holowaka and
gives him the message
for the mankind
• Secret is to slip off the
skin and be young
again
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Snake
96. Expanded
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God becomes unhappy over the distress of mankind at their old age. He
wanted to give humankind a solution for this problem. Calls Holowaka- His
messenger and gives him a secret message meant for mankind. Secret is
to slip off their old skin and be young again. Holowaka flies for many days
and reach earth hungry and tired. He smells meat and see a snake feasting
on a dead antelope. Wants snake to share some food. The snake wants
the secret in return. Holowaka eats the meat and tells the secret to the
snake. Holowaka goes back but the secret remains with the snakes
98. babuappat@gmail.com
Most Revered Almighty,
I hope you are doing well in heaven. I also am fine here on earth. I
reached earth comfortably. The journey was more or less
comfortable. But we forgot one thing when we set out to
earth. Neither did I remember nor did you remind me to carry
some food for myself. While I reached earth I was really tired
and hungry. My hunger was too severe since I had not eaten a
thing for days together. I went out looking for some food and I
saw a snake feasting on a dead antelope. I begged for some
food, but he was not ready to oblige. I offered him many things
but he was not ready to accept. He was adamant that I should
part the secret with him. Finally I had to do it. I was under the
impression that I can tell it to men too. But I came to know it
won’t work, since the message was meant for the first person
who hear it from me. I and sorry, really sorry. I promise you I
won’t commit this kind of a mistake any more. Please forgive
me.
Thanking you in anticipation of your blessing
Yours faithfully
Holowaka
101. Whenever we see a snake we will get scared of it. We will immediately try to
run away. Normally no snake will attack us. When hurt or frightened it
may, but never for no reason.
All snakes are not poisonous. Water snake, rat snake, python and a lot other
such snakes are not poisonous.
Anaconda the largest snake on earth also is not poisonous.
Please don’t fear snakes, please don’t hurt them. Let them also live a full life
on this earth.
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Are all snakes poisonous?
103. Do all snakes bite?
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They may bite, but all are not poisonous. No
snake will bite a man for no reason
104. How do we help a person who has
been bitten by a snake?
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All of us have to take a training on first aid measures. When a person is
bitten by a snake we have to wash the site of bite with flowing
water. We have to use a toilet soap; preferably a carbolic soap to
wash the wound or site of bite. Then mop it to dry and cover the
place with a tower or clean cloth. Never allow the person to walk,
run or do any activity which requires physical exertion. Take him to a
hospital immediately.
105. How do we help a person who has
been bitten by a snake?
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All of us have to take a training on first aid measures. When a person is
bitten by a snake we have to wash the site of bite with flowing
water. We have to use a toilet soap; preferably a carbolic soap to
wash the wound or site of bite. Then mop it to dry and cover the
place with a tower or clean cloth. Never allow the person to walk,
run or do any activity which requires physical exertion. Take him to a
hospital immediately.
107. dis·tressed (dĭ-strĕst′)adj.1. Suffering distress: the distressed parents of
wayward youths.
2. Damaged or previously used: distressed merchandise.
3. Having been foreclosed and offered for sale, usually at a price below
market value: distressed real estate.
4. Intentionally marred or faded to convey an antique or used
look: distressed furniture; distressed denim.
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Vocabulary
108. rum·ble (rŭm′bəl)v. rum·bled, rum·bling, rum·bles
v.intr.1. To make a deep, long, rolling sound.
2. To move or proceed with a deep, long, rolling sound.
3. Slang To engage in a gang fight.
v.tr.1. To utter with a deep, long, rolling sound.
2. To polish or mix (metal parts) in a tumbling box.
n.1. A deep, long, rolling sound.
2. A tumbling box.
3. A luggage compartment or servant's seat in the rear of a carriage.
4. Slanga. Pervasive, widespread expression of unrest or dissatisfaction.
b. A gang fight.
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Vocabulary
111. Vocabulary
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en·trust (ĕn-trŭst′) also in·trust (ĭn)tr.v. en·trust·ed also in·trust·ed, en·trust·ing also in·trust·ing, en·trusts
also in·trusts1. To give over (something) to another for care, protection,
or performance: "He still has the aura of the priest to whom you would
entrust your darkest secrets" (James Carroll).
2. To give as a trust to (someone): entrusted his aides with the task.
112. con·sol·i·date (kən-sŏl′ĭdāt′)v. con·sol·i·dat·ed, con·sol·i·dat·ing, con·sol·i·dates
v.tr.1. To unite into one system or whole; combine: consolidated five
separate agencies into a single department.
2. To make strong or secure; strengthen: She consolidated her power
during her first year in office.
3. To make firm or coherent; form into a compact mass.
v.intr.1. To become solidified or united.
2. To join in a merger or union
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Vocabulary
113. rage (rāj)n.1.a. Violent, explosive anger. See Synonyms at anger.
b. A fit of anger.
2. Furious intensity, as of a storm or disease.
3. A burning desire; a passion.
4. A current, eagerly adopted fashion; a fad or craze: when torn jeans were all
the rage.
intr.v. raged, rag·ing, rag·es1. To speak or act in violent anger: raged at the
mindless bureaucracy.
2. To move with great violence or intensity: A storm raged through the
mountains.
3. To spread or prevail forcefully:
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Vocabulary
114. hiss (hĭs)n.1. A sharp sibilant sound similar to a sustained s.
2. An expression of disapproval, contempt, or dissatisfaction conveyed
by use of this sound.
v. hissed, hiss·ing, hiss·es
v.intr.To make a hiss: The audience booed and hissed. The teakettle
hissed on the stove.
v.tr.1. To utter with a hiss:
2. To express (a negative view or reaction) by uttering a hiss: The
audience hissed its displeasure.
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Vocabulary
115. Hope you have understood the
lesson very well
THANK YOU
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Go back and read the lesson once again
Think about how well you could comprehend