Class 11 English Hornbill (Writing Skills) Chapter 4 Essay-writing

Key Concept: Basic Concepts

b) To conserve a vital resource

[Solution Description]

Saving water is essential because it helps in conserving a vital resource necessary for life, reducing energy consumption, and ensuring future availability.

Key Concept: Persuasive Essay Topics

a) Prevention of gender-biased sex selection elimination

[Solution Description] The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme focuses on preventing gender-biased sex selection, ensuring survival and protection of the girl child, and promoting education and participation of the girl child.

Key Concept: Descriptive Essay Topics

c) Importance of mental attitude and mindset

[Solution Description]

The essay topic “Success begins in the mind” focuses on the importance of mental attitude and mindset in achieving success.

Key Concept: Argumentative Essay Topics

d) All of the above

[Solution Description]

The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme aims to prevent gender-biased sex selection, ensure the survival and protection of the girl child, and promote her education and participation. The primary objective is to address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR) by focusing on these key areas.

Key Concept: Essay Writing Themes

a) Prevention of gender-biased sex selection

[Solution Description]

The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme focuses on themes such as preventing gender-biased sex selection, ensuring the survival and protection of the girl child, and promoting her education and participation. Therefore, any theme related to these objectives would be relevant.

Key Concept: Grammar

b) He is going to the store.

[Solution Description] The correct sentence must follow standard grammatical rules, including subject-verb agreement, proper use of articles, and correct verb tense.

Key Concept: Essay Exchange

d) To provide and receive feedback

[Solution Description]

The primary purpose of exchanging essays with classmates is to provide and receive feedback, which helps in improving writing skills and understanding different perspectives.

Key Concept: Public Health in Transition

d) All of the above

[Solution Description]

The primary objective of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme is to ensure the survival, protection, and empowerment of the girl child. This includes preventing gender-biased sex selection, ensuring the survival and protection of the girl child, and promoting her education and participation.

Key Concept: Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Scheme

b) Ensuring survival and protection of the girl child

[Solution Description]

One of the objectives of the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme is to ensure the survival and protection of the girl child, as mentioned in the syllabus.

Key Concept: Essay Writing – Purpose of Hobbies

c) To provide relief from monotony

[Solution Description]

Hobbies are free-time activities that provide pleasure and refresh the mind. They help in relieving monotony, channeling energy, and developing overall personality. One of their main purposes is to provide relief from the monotony of daily life.

Key Concept: Essay-writing

b) Brainstorming or jotting down ideas randomly

[Solution Description] The syllabus suggests that brainstorming or jotting down ideas randomly on a sheet of paper is a good way to begin writing an essay.

Key Concept: Punctuation

b) I went to the store, bought some bread, and returned home.

[Solution Description]

The sentence “I went to the store, bought some bread, and returned home.” uses punctuation correctly because it uses commas to separate items in a list.

Key Concept: Thesis Clarity

d) A statement that is specific and direct

[Solution Description] A clear thesis statement is specific, concise, and directly states the main idea of the essay without ambiguity. It should not be vague or overly broad.

Key Concept: Weak Thesis Statement

b) It does not explain why reading is beneficial.

[Solution Description]

The thesis statement “Reading is good” is ineffective because it is too vague and does not provide a specific reason or argument about why reading is good. A strong thesis should be clear, specific, and present a focused argument.

Key Concept: Probability

b) $\frac{1}{6}$

[Solution Description]

To find the probability that the sum of two dice rolls is 7, we first determine all possible outcomes when rolling a die twice. There are $6 \times 6 = 36$ possible outcomes. Next, we find the number of favorable outcomes where the sum is 7:

(1, 6)

(2, 5)

(3, 4)

(4, 3)

(5, 2)

(6, 1)

There are 6 favorable outcomes. Therefore, the probability is $\frac{6}{36} = \frac{1}{6}$.

Key Concept: Essay-writing, Brainstorming

c) Creating a random list of ideas and expanding them

[Solution Description] The most effective way to organize thoughts before writing an essay is through brainstorming. This involves generating ideas randomly and then selecting relevant points to expand into sentences. This method helps in creating a structured and coherent essay by ensuring that all important aspects of the topic are covered.

Key Concept: Basic Concept

c) Difficulty in decision-making

[Solution Description]

In a work environment with a lack of structure, employees may struggle with understanding their roles, making decisions without clear guidance, and maintaining productivity.

Key Concept: Avoiding Common Mistakes

c) It leads to grammatical mistakes and typos

[Solution Description]

Not proofreading an essay before submission can lead to errors such as grammatical mistakes, typos, and unclear sentences, which can negatively impact the overall quality and readability of the essay.

Key Concept: Crafting a Powerful Conclusion

b) Introducing a new supporting argument

[Solution Description]

A compelling conclusion should avoid introducing new information, as it can confuse the audience and detract from the main message. Instead, it should focus on reinforcing the existing content and providing closure.

Key Concept: Essay-writing, Coherence

c) Ensuring a logical relationship between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs.

[Solution Description]

Coherence in an essay requires a logical sequence of thought. This means there should be a clear and logical relationship between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. The option that best describes this requirement is the correct answer.

Key Concept: Relevance, Proportion

d) Emphasizing important ideas while briefly mentioning less critical points

[Solution Description]

The principle of relevance is demonstrated by the inclusion of only important information related to the benefits and drawbacks of playing games. The essay avoids including unnecessary details that do not contribute to the main subject. Proportion is maintained by giving more space to significant ideas, such as the health benefits and moral lessons from games, while briefly mentioning the potential dangers without overemphasizing them.

Key Concept: Essay Structure

a) Repetition

[Solution Description]

A good essay must have unity, coherence, relevance, and proportion. Unity means the essay should focus on the main subject. Coherence ensures a logical sequence of thought. Relevance avoids including unnecessary information. Proportion gives more space to important ideas. The correct answer is the option that does not describe a characteristic of a good essay.

Key Concept: Importance of Games

c) To ensure soundness in body and mind

[Solution Description]

The text emphasizes that games are not included in the curriculum to win battles but to ensure a person is sound in body and mind. Therefore, the primary reason is to promote physical and mental well-being.

Key Concept: Benefits of Hobbies

c) They relieve us from the monotony of daily life

[Solution Description]

One major benefit of engaging in hobbies is that they relieve us from the monotony of daily life and keep our energy levels high.

Key Concept: Essay-Writing Techniques

c) Including excessive unrelated details

[Solution Description]

The syllabus outlines several characteristics of a good essay: unity, coherence, relevance, and proportion. Unity ensures the essay deals with the main subject. Coherence requires a logical sequence of thought. Relevance suggests avoiding unimportant information. Proportion involves giving more space to important ideas. The option that does not align with these characteristics is “Including excessive unrelated details,” as this would violate relevance.

Key Concept: Health benefits

c) They become weak and susceptible to disease

[Solution Description] The passage states that if the body is not used regularly, it becomes weak and more susceptible to diseases. Thus, maintaining physical fitness through games or other exercises is crucial for good health.

Key Concept: Paragraph Structure

d) Paragraph 4

[Solution Description]

According to the syllabus, Paragraph 4 specifically deals with the disadvantages and dangers of playing games. This is part of the structured flow of the essay, which sequentially addresses different aspects of the topic.

Key Concept: Alternative to Games

b) Yoga.

[Solution Description]

The text mentions that India is the home of yoga, which is presented as an alternative to playing games for achieving physical health. This suggests that yoga can be a viable option for maintaining physical fitness without focusing solely on games.

Key Concept: Balancing Studies and Sports

b) To improve physical health and mental well-being

[Solution Description] Balancing studies and sports helps in overall personality development, improves physical health, and enhances mental well-being. It ensures that students are not just academically strong but also physically active.

Key Concept: Dangers of Excessive Focus on Games

c) It changes the Olympic motto to emphasize winning

[Solution Description]

The passage warns that if games become the most important aspect of life, it could lead to a shift in values, prioritizing winning over other important aspects of life.

Key Concept: Balance in Life

c) Games should not overshadow other life aspects

[Solution Description] The passage cautions against letting games become the most important thing in life, as it may lead to prioritizing winning over other aspects of life.

Key Concept: Social Interaction

c) By handling victory and defeat gracefully

[Solution Description]

Games encourage social interaction by teaching individuals to handle both victory and defeat gracefully. This interaction fosters better understanding and cooperation among participants.

Key Concept: Role of Games in Society

b) Games ensure individuals remain healthy to fulfill societal duties

[Solution Description]

One of the key roles of games is to ensure that individuals remain healthy so they can fulfill their societal duties effectively. The syllabus emphasizes that even if a person is very intelligent, their intelligence cannot be effectively utilized if they suffer from poor health. Therefore, games play a crucial role in maintaining physical fitness, which is essential for fulfilling societal responsibilities.

Key Concept: Health and Intelligence

b) Poor health prevents the use of intelligence

[Solution Description] The passage states that intelligence alone is insufficient if a person cannot utilize it due to poor health. Good health is necessary to effectively apply one’s intelligence and fulfill societal duties.

Key Concept: Games

b) Encourages the spirit of sportsmanship

[Solution Description]

The passage mentions that playing games encourages the spirit of sportsmanship, which helps individuals deal with life’s problems wisely and naturally.

Key Concept: Balanced Approach to Games

b) Achieving a balanced approach

[Solution Description]

The syllabus suggests that while games are valuable, they should not become the most important thing in life. The focus should remain on achieving a balanced approach, where both the mind and body are healthy.

Key Concept: Paragraph 1

b) Games develop qualities essential for success in life.

[Solution Description]

The Duke of Wellington’s statement implies that games played a significant role in shaping the qualities needed for success in battles. Although games are not directly aimed at winning battles, they contribute to developing sound physical and mental health, which are essential for fulfilling societal duties.

Key Concept: Essay Writing

c) To summarize the writer’s opinion and main points

[Solution Description] The conclusion paragraph in an essay serves to summarize the writer’s opinion or the main points discussed in the essay. It brings together all the ideas presented in the body paragraphs and provides a final perspective on the topic, ensuring the essay ends logically and coherently.

Key Concept: Proportion in Essay Writing

d) Give more space to the important ideas

[Solution Description]

According to the concept of proportion in essay writing, important ideas should be given more space than less important ones. This ensures that the main subject is thoroughly discussed and highlighted, while minor details are addressed briefly.

Key Concept: Proportion

c) 15

[Solution Description]

The ratio of boys to girls is 5:3. Given that there are 25 boys, we can find the number of girls by setting up the proportion $\frac{5}{3} = \frac{25}{x}$, where $x$ is the unknown number of girls. Solving for $x$, we cross-multiply:

$5x = 3 \times 25$

$5x = 75$

$x = \frac{75}{5} = 15$

Therefore, there are 15 girls in the class.

Key Concept: Focus on Important Points

b) Taking detailed notes and summarizing periodically

[Solution Description]

To stay focused on important points during a discussion, it is crucial to actively listen and take notes. This helps in filtering out irrelevant information and retaining key details. Additionally, summarizing the discussion periodically ensures that the focus remains on the main points.

Key Concept: Characteristics of a Good Essay

b) Relevance

[Solution Description]

The characteristic that ensures an essay focuses on the main subject is relevance. By excluding unnecessary details, the essay remains focused on the central theme.

Key Concept: Relevance

b) Focusing on the main topic

[Solution Description]

The key principle of maintaining relevance in communication is to focus only on the information that is directly related to the topic or purpose, avoiding any unnecessary details.

Key Concept: Relevance

c) To ensure only important information is included

[Solution Description]

Relevance in an essay ensures that only important information related to the main subject is included. Unimportant information should not be included as it distracts from the main topic.

Key Concept: Unity

b) To ensure all parts of the essay are linked to the main subject

[Solution Description]

Unity in an essay ensures that all parts of the essay are clearly linked with the main subject. This helps in maintaining focus and clarity throughout the essay.

Key Concept: Coherence

b) Logical relationship between sentences

[Solution Description]

To achieve coherence in a paragraph, there must be a logical relationship between its sentences. Each sentence should naturally follow from the previous one, creating a clear and understandable progression of ideas.

Key Concept: Essay-writing

b) Writing in a random sequence without logical flow

[Solution Description]

A good essay should have unity, coherence, relevance, and proportion. Unity means the essay should focus on the main subject, coherence ensures a logical sequence of thought, relevance means excluding unimportant information, and proportion involves giving more space to important ideas. The correct answer is an option that does not align with these characteristics.

Key Concept: Essay Writing – Brainstorming

b) Using brainstorming to generate ideas

[Solution Description]

Brainstorming is a technique where multiple ideas are generated in a group or individually to start the essay-writing process. It helps in organizing thoughts and selecting relevant points for the essay. The syllabus emphasizes brainstorming as a useful method to overcome the difficulty of starting an essay.

Key Concept: Unity Concept

c) To maintain coherence and focus on the central theme

[Solution Description]

It is important for all parts of an essay to be linked to the main subject to maintain coherence and ensure the essay stays focused on its central theme.

Key Concept: Unity

b) Dealing with the main subject throughout

[Solution Description]

Unity in an essay means that all parts of the essay should be clearly linked with the main subject. This ensures that the essay stays focused and coherent.

Key Concept: Hobbies

c) To give pleasure and refresh the mind

[Solution Description]

According to the syllabus, hobbies are activities done in free time that give pleasure and refresh the mind. They are not forced and provide relief from monotony.

Key Concept: Essay Structure

b) To introduce the subject and make a general statement

[Solution Description]

The first paragraph of an essay introduces the subject and makes a general statement about its importance. This sets the stage for the rest of the essay.

Key Concept: Essay Writing

b) To generate and organize ideas

[Solution Description]

Brainstorming is a technique used to generate ideas on a topic. It helps in organizing thoughts and identifying key points that can be expanded into sentences or paragraphs. The primary purpose of brainstorming is to facilitate the initial stage of writing by making it easier to begin.

Key Concept: Essay Characteristics

c) Including unimportant information

[Solution Description]

A good essay must have unity, coherence, relevance, and proportion. Including unimportant information violates the principle of relevance, making it not a characteristic of a good essay.

Key Concept: Coherence

c) A logical sequence of thought with clear relationships between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs

[Solution Description]

Coherence in an essay requires a logical sequence of thought, where there is a clear and logical relationship between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs. This ensures that the reader can follow the writer’s argument or narrative smoothly.

Key Concept: Unity in Essay Writing

b) The essay should deal with the main subject and all parts should be linked with it

[Solution Description] Unity in an essay means that the essay should deal with the main subject, and all parts of it should be clearly linked with that subject. This ensures that the essay remains focused on a single topic without straying to unrelated ideas.

Key Concept: Concept: Hobbies and Creativity

b) To provide variety and refresh the mind

[Solution Description]

The primary purpose of engaging in hobbies is to provide variety, refresh the mind, relieve monotony, and express creativity. Hobbies are chosen out of personal interest and give pleasure, making life interesting and enhancing personality growth.

Key Concept: Brainstorming Techniques

b) Brainstorming

[Solution Description]

Brainstorming and listing ideas are primary techniques used to generate ideas before writing an essay. These methods help in organizing thoughts and selecting relevant points for the essay.

Key Concept: Essay-writing: Characteristics of a Good Essay

a) Repetition of key points

[Solution Description]

A good essay should have unity, coherence, relevance, and proportion. Unity means the essay deals with the main subject, and all parts are linked to it. Coherence means there is a logical sequence of thought. Relevance ensures that only important information is included, and proportion means giving more space to important ideas. The option that does not align with these characteristics is the correct answer.

Key Concept: Essay-writing

b) To generate random ideas for the topic

[Solution Description] Brainstorming helps generate ideas randomly as they come to mind, which can later be organized and expanded into sentences. This process makes it easier to start writing by providing a pool of ideas to work with.

Key Concept: Unity in Essay-Writing

c) Linking all parts to the main subject

[Solution Description]

Unity in an essay means that all parts of the essay should clearly link with the main subject. This ensures that the essay remains focused and does not deviate from the central topic.

Key Concept: Coherence in Essay Writing

b) Logical sequence of thought

[Solution Description]

Coherence refers to the logical sequence of thought in an essay. It requires that ideas, sentences, and paragraphs are logically connected, ensuring that the reader can follow the argument or discussion smoothly from one point to the next.

Key Concept: Essay Writing – Unity

b) The essay should focus on a single main idea and connect all parts to it.

[Solution Description]

The principle of unity in essay writing means that the essay should focus on a single main idea or subject, and all parts of the essay should be clearly connected to that subject. This ensures that the essay is coherent and stays on topic throughout.

Key Concept: Relevance

c) Improving academic performance

[Solution Description]

The essay highlights several benefits of playing games, including physical health, moral benefits, and the importance of participation. However, it does not mention improving academic performance directly as a benefit of playing games. Therefore, this point is not relevant to the essay’s discussion.

Key Concept: Essay Purpose

c) To express ideas and thoughts clearly in a structured manner

[Solution Description]

The primary purpose of writing an essay is to express ideas and thoughts clearly in a structured manner. It aims to communicate information, persuade the reader, or present an argument on a specific topic. Essays are used to demonstrate understanding, critical thinking, and analytical skills. The main goal is to engage the reader with coherent and logical content.

Key Concept: Coherence in Essay Writing

c) There should be a logical sequence of thought

[Solution Description] Coherence in an essay ensures that there is a logical sequence of thought throughout the essay. This means that ideas, sentences, and paragraphs should be logically connected to each other.

Key Concept: Purpose of Hobbies

c) They provide relief from monotony

[Solution Description]

The syllabus highlights several benefits of hobbies, including providing relief from monotony, refreshing the mind, channelising energy, and developing overall personality.