“The Girl Who Asked Why” by Shon Mehta is an empowering story about a young girl who challenged deep-rooted gender prejudice and traditional societal norms. Long ago, girls were barred from receiving an education and were expected only to learn cooking, handle household work, and get married at a certain age. However, this girl constantly questioned these rules by asking “Why?”. She agreed to learn cooking and housework because her mother explained they would make her self-dependent and capable of feeding herself. But when her parents proposed marrying her off simply because “everyone does”, she firmly refused, asserting that it was not a valid reason.
Recognizing her determination, her father, who was a teacher, admitted her to his academy. She learned hymns and their deeper meanings, asked insightful questions, and soon surpassed her father in knowledge. When the local king invited the brightest scholar from the academy to a global conference aimed at compiling all universal knowledge into books, she was chosen as the academy’s delegate.
At the conference, male scholars and delegates reacted with outrage upon seeing a woman climb the dais. They called her presence “preposterous” and a “sin against God”. An elderly scholar claimed that female intellect was inherently weaker than male intellect, citing ancient hymns. The girl boldly questioned this assumption, asking who wrote the hymns and how male ancestors determined female intellect was weaker. Unable to provide a single example or proof, the scholar admitted he needed time to study. Recognizing her merit and courage, the king permitted her to join the scholars’ panel. She actively participated in debates, astonished everyone with her brilliance, and contributed her own composed hymns to the final book, becoming the world’s first recognized female scholar.
Relevant – Connected with the subject being discussed / ,
Grandeur – Grand and beautiful / ,
Hymns – Songs of praise usually of God / , ,
Panel – A group of people chosen to make decisions /
Surpassed – Exceeded in knowledge, outperformed / ,
Forefathers – Male ancestors / ,
Intellect – Mental capability, reasoning power / ,
Why do the children in the picture call themselves special?
ЁЯТб Solution:
The children in the picture call themselves special because each of them possesses unique abilities, talents, and determination despite facing physical disabilities or challenges.
The children in the picture call themselves special because each of them possesses unique abilities, talents, and determination despite facing physical disabilities or challenges.
What makes them special is their joyful spirit, mutual support, positive attitude toward life, and their refusal to let physical limitations hinder their growth and happiness.
What makes them special is their joyful spirit, mutual support, positive attitude toward life, and their refusal to let physical limitations hinder their growth and happiness.
Physically, I may not have physical disabilities like using crutches or wheelchairs, but as human beings, we are all equal with our own distinct traits, strengths, and learning abilities.
Physically, I may not have physical disabilities like using crutches or wheelchairs, but as human beings, we are all equal with our own distinct traits, strengths, and learning abilities.
When the king allowed her to join the panel, the audience ________** – a) felt happy and cheered the king. – b) was not sure of her worthiness. – c) left the venue in protest
Q: Which of the above utterances (actual words spoken) do you support and why?
Answer: I support the utterances spoken by The Girl (statements b and e) and The King (statement f). The girl’s utterances demonstrate polite courage, logical reasoning, and a quest for truth rather than blind acceptance. The King’s utterance shows a fair and unbiased ruler who values reason over baseless prejudices.
Why did the academy send the girl to the conference?
ЁЯТб Solution:
The academy sent the girl to the conference because she had surpassed everyone, including her father, in knowledge through her continuous questioning and learning, making her the brightest scholar in the academy.
The academy sent the girl to the conference because she had surpassed everyone, including her father, in knowledge through her continuous questioning and learning, making her the brightest scholar in the academy.
Q2
Why did the king invite scholars and philosophers…
Why did the king invite scholars and philosophers from all over the world?
ЁЯТб Solution:
The king invited scholars and philosophers from all over the world because he wanted to gather inputs and compile all the knowledge in the universe into comprehensive books.
The king invited scholars and philosophers from all over the world because he wanted to gather inputs and compile all the knowledge in the universe into comprehensive books.
How did the girl justify her presence in the auditorium?
ЁЯТб Solution:
The girl justified her presence by stating that the king’s invitation was for the brightest scholar of her academy, which she was, and that the invitation nowhere specified that only male scholars were allowed.
The girl justified her presence by stating that the king’s invitation was for the brightest scholar of her academy, which she was, and that the invitation nowhere specified that only male scholars were allowed.
The king supported the girl because she had earned her place strictly on merit, answered all objections logically, and the elderly scholar failed to provide any convincing evidence or example to prove that female intellect was weaker.
The king supported the girl because she had earned her place strictly on merit, answered all objections logically, and the elderly scholar failed to provide any convincing evidence or example to prove that female intellect was weaker.
“Women have weaker intellect,” say the hymns. Do you agree/disagree with this view? Give reason(s)
ЁЯТб Solution:
I completely disagree with this view. Intellect is a human quality determined by education, critical thinking, opportunity, and effort, not by gender. Women throughout history have proven their brilliance in science, literature, philosophy, and leadership whenever given equal opportunities.
I completely disagree with this view. Intellect is a human quality determined by education, critical thinking, opportunity, and effort, not by gender. Women throughout history have proven their brilliance in science, literature, philosophy, and leadership whenever given equal opportunities.
Section 4
Vocabulary Exercises
рдЦрдВрдб
рд╢рдмреНрдж рднрдВрдбрд╛рд░
Task: Tick (тЬУ) the correct meaning of the underlined word in each of the following sentences.
Task: Tick (тЬУ) the correct meaning of the underlined word in each of the following sentences.
Q12
She usurpassedu her father in knowledge
She usurpassedu her father in knowledge
ЁЯУЭ Question:
She surpassed her father in knowledge.**
ЁЯТб Solution:
a) defeated
b) bypassed
c) equaled
Correct Option:a) defeated (exceeded/excelled in knowledge)
: Surpassed (defeated / excelled)
2. The king wanted to compile all the knowledge.
a) save
b) gather
c) share
Correct Option:b) gather
: Compile / (gather)
3. She noticed a large number of men, but hardly any women among the delegates.
a) guests
b) audience
c) representatives
Correct Option:c) representatives
: Delegates (representatives)
4. The king gave a little chuckle.
a) nod
b) cry
c) laugh
Correct Option:c) laugh
: Chuckle / (laugh)
5. They were sure that the girl will be humiliated by scholars.
a) ignored
b) praised
c) insulted
Correct Option:c) insulted
: Humiliated (insulted)
6. If the scholars have objections, they can debate with her.
a) argue
b) fight
c) talk
Correct Option:a) argue
: Debate – (argue)
ЁЯУЭ рдкреНрд░рд╢реНрди:
She surpassed her father in knowledge.**
ЁЯТб рдЙрддреНрддрд░ / рд╣рд▓:
a) defeated
b) bypassed
c) equaled
Correct Option:a) defeated (exceeded/excelled in knowledge)
Grammar Exercises (рд╡реНрдпрд╛рдХрд░рдг – Finite and Non-Finite Verbs)
Finite Verbs: Change according to the tense, number, and person of the subject (e.g., lives, was, wanted, learned).
Non-Finite Verbs (Infinitives / Participles): Do not change with subject, number, or tense (e.g., to cook, to take care, cooking).
Finite Verbs: Change according to the tense, number, and person of the subject (e.g., lives, was, wanted, learned).
Non-Finite Verbs (Infinitives / Participles): Do not change with subject, number, or tense (e.g., to cook, to take care, cooking).
Exercise 1
Identify Finite and Non-Finite Verbs
рдЕрднреНрдпрд╛рд╕
Identify Finite and Non-Finite Verbs
Sentence / Phrase
Finite Verbs
Non-Finite Verbs
Girls were taught to cook…
were taught, married
to cook, to take care
Studying was off-limits…
was
Studying (Gerund)
…there lived a girl.
lived
None
She was a little different.
was
None
She always had…
had
None
…mother wanted her to learn cooking.
wanted
to learn, cooking
Why should I learn to cook?
should learn
to cook
…you can feed yourself…
can feed
None
…learned to cook.
learned
to cook
…wanted to teach her…
wanted
to teach
Text Passage:
“Girls were taught to cook, to take care of the family, and then married off. Studying was off-limits to girls. In those times, there lived a girl. She was a little different. She always had lots of questions in her mind. When she was little, her mother wanted her to learn cooking. The girl asked her mother, ‘Why should I learn to cook?’ Mother said, ‘So that you can feed yourself when required.’ The girl said ‘Fair enough’, and learned to cook. After some time, her mother wanted to teach her household work.”
Fill in the Blanks with Appropriate Verb Forms (“The Fox and the Goat”)
рдЕрднреНрдпрд╛рд╕
Fill in the Blanks with Appropriate Verb Forms (“The Fox and the Goat”)
Completed Text:
Once a fox was roaming around in the dark. Unfortunately, he fell into a well. He tried his level best to get out but all in vain. So, he had no other alternative but to remain there till the next morning. The next day, a goat came that way. She peeped into the well and saw the fox there. The goat asked, “what are you doing there, Mr. Fox?”
The sly fox replied, “I came here to drink water. It is the best I have ever tasted. Come and see for yourself.” Without thinking even for a while, the goat jumped into the well to quench her thirst. Then she looked for a way to get out. But just like the fox, she also found herself helpless to come out.
Then the fox said, “I have an idea. You stand on your hind legs. I’ll climb on your head and get out. Then I shall help you come out too.” The goat was innocent enough to understand the shrewdness of the fox and did as the fox said and helped him get out of the well. While walking away, the fox said, “Had you been intelligent enough, you would never have got in without seeing how to get out.”
Description using hints:(swing, seesaw, girls, boys, parallel bars, single bar, crutches, dark glasses, go up and down, push, enjoy, swing)
Sample Description:
In this vibrant playground picture, children with diverse physical abilities are playing together with great joy. A boy wearing dark glasses is enjoying the seesaw as it goes up and down. Near the parallel bars, a boy wearing leg braces is exercising with full enthusiasm. Another boy with crutches is watching his friends perform acrobatic tricks on the single bar. A girl in a wheelchair is happily sitting nearby while a friend gently pushes her swing. Everyone is included, supporting each other, and enjoying their playtime together.