QUESTIONS FROM
TEXTBOOK SOLVED
A. Understanding the Text
Question 1:
Give reasons for the following:
(i) King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated scrutiny.
Answer:
The mummy of King Tutankhamun has earned world wide fame for the riches it was
buried with. There is also speculation about the manner of his death and his
age at the time of death. Hence King Tut’s body has been subjected to repeated
scrutiny.
(ii) Howard Carter’s investigation was resented.
Answer:
Howard Carter’s investigation was resented because he used unscientific methods
and illegitimate ways. He was focusing more on treasure and less on cultural
and historical aspects.
(iii) Carter had to chisel away the solidified resins to raise the king’s
remains.
Answer:
Carter found that the ritual resins had hardened. The result was that Tut’s
body had
been cemented to the bottom of his solid gold coffin. Proper force could not
move the resins. Even the scorching sun failed to loosen the resins. So he got
the resins chilselled away to raise the king’s remains.
(iv) Tut’s body was buried along with gilded treasures.
Answer:
The people of ancient Egypt believed in resurrection of the dead. Their kings
were extremely rich. So Tut’s body was buried with gilded treasures. Their
eternal brilliance was meant to guarantee resurrection. Things of everyday use
were also buried with the king.
(v) The boy king changed his name from Tutankhaten to Tutankhamun.
Answer:
Tutankhamun means “living image of Amun”. He was a major god in ancient Egypt.
King Amenhotep IV who changed his name to Akhonaten smashed the images of Amun
and got his temples closed. Tut oversaw a restoration of the old ways. He
changed his name to express his belief in Amun.
Question 2:
(i) List the deeds that led Ray Johnson to describe Akhenaten as ‘wacky’.
Answer:
Akhenaten means the servant of the Aten i.e. the sun disc. He moved the
religious capital from the old city of the Thebes to the new city of Akhetaten,
known now as Amarna. He smashed the images of Amun, a major God and closed his
temples. These deeds led Ray Jonson to describe Akhenaten as ‘Wacky’.
(ii) What were the results of the CT scan?
Answer:
The results of the C.T. scan were quite encouraging. 1700 digital X-ray images
in cross-section were created. A gray head appeared on screen. Neck vertebrae
were quite clear. The images of hand, ribcage and skull were equally bright.
These revealed that nothing had gone seriously wrong with Tut’s body
(iii) List the advances in technology that have improved forensic
analysis.
Answer:
The advances in technology have helped in improving forensic analysis. Many
scientific tests can be carried out to determine the causes of crime. These
include X-ray,
ultrasound, C.T. scan, post mortem, autopsy and biopsy. All these help in
diagnosis and provide exact information.
(iv) Explain the statement, “King Tut is one of the first mummies
to be scanned— in death as in life”
Answer:
King Tut’s mummy was the first one to be X-rayed by an anatomy Professor in
1968. On 5 January 2005 CT scan created virtual reality and produced life-like
images. King Tut is one of the first mummies to be scanned. Thus in death as
well as in life Tut moved regally ahead of his countrymen.
B.
Talking About the Text
Discuss the following in groups of two pairs, each pair in a group
taking opposite points of view:
Question 1:
Scientific intervention is necessary to unearth buried mysteries.
(Students are expected to debate on issue raised in the text related to
rediscovering history with the help of technology; respect for traditions, etc.
While answering these questions, students are required to reflect on the issues
and give their points of view.)
Answer:
For the motion.
Every nation glorifies its past history, culture and civilization. However,
certain mysteries lie buried with them. Rituals and legends are insufficient to
clear the wrap of mystery surrounding them. For example, take the case of
Tutankhamun’s mummy. He was laid to rest laden with gold more than 3,300 years
ago. Since the discovery of his tomb in 1922 AD, the modem world has speculated
about him. Some people believe that the boy king might have been murdered.
There is a mystery around his life as well as death. Scientific intervention is
necessary to clear the dust and cloud of mysteries around him. Hence, if we
want to study archaeology properly we must take help of scientific techniques.
Against the motion:
If present is perfect and future certain, why many about the past? Let the dead
past bury its dead and the mysteries surrounding them. In the present world
full of competition, we must devote our money, time and energy to build up our
resources and sustain the life style. Scientific techniques should be employed
to feed the hungry millions and clad the naked ones. Some mysteries of the past
have lost their relevance with the passage of time. Won’t it be futile and
wastage of precious resources of a developing nation in this idle pursuit? Let
the thinkers, philosophers and priests worry about mysteries—not the
scientists.
Question 2:
Advanced technology gives us conclusive evidence of past events.
Answer:
For the motion.
I fully subscribe to the observation that advanced technology gives us
conclusive evidence of past events. Even my opponents will agree that there is
no proper written record about many past events. Myths and legends surround
even the most celebrated personalities and events of their life or
circumstances of death. Facts and fiction are mingled together and sometimes
have become inseparable. Various persons have given coloured versions of the
past events to suit the demands of their masters or to serve their own ends.
The evidence that opposed their point of view has been condemned and rejected.
Thus sometimes we get a warped version and subjective account of past events.
Only advanced technology can help us understand the past in right perspective.
Against the motion:
I disagree with the remarks that advanced technology gives us conclusive evidence
of past events. It may hold good in certain cases where evidence can be
reconstructed and examined closely with the sophisticated techniques of modem
science available now. However, it will be unfair to generalise and hold it
true in all cases. Sometimes the processing of available data may yield
contradictory accounts and create more confusion than unravelling the knotted
issues. Moreover, the available evidence may not be worthy of analysis and
examination. The tests may determine the possible time period of the action,
but it is quite difficult to assess the causes that prompted it or the results
that followed it.
Question 3:
Tradition, rituals and funerary practices must be respected.
Answer:
For the motion.
Different religions, cultures and civilizations follow various traditions,
rituals and funerary practices. The dead bodies buried under the earth, are
supposed to lie in rest peacefully till the doom’s day or the day of
resurrection or after life. The ancient Egyptians had mastered the art of mummifying.
Certain traditional rituals were performed while treating the dead body with
special oils and wrapping it in cloth. Ritual resins held the mummy close to
the bottom of the coffin. The burial chamber and grave contained all the
important things that the king might need in after life. The funerary practices
had a certain sanctity for the followers of that particular religion. We must
learn to be more tolerant of the belief of others. Hence I conclude that
traditions, rituals and funerary practices must be respected.
Against the motion:
The world is on the move. We have to be forward looking. We can’t remain
content with the achievements of the past or rest on our laurels. If
traditions, rituals and certain funerary practices block the flow of information
and knowledge, these may be overlooked for the greater benefit of humanity,
i.e. clearing the air of mystery, ignorance and superstitions surrounding some
of the age-old beliefs. However, in our quest for knowledge, we should not be
intolerant or disrespectful. We must conduct our probe objectively and
dispassionately. Facts must be given more weightage than the beliefs attached
to them. A detached outlook can provide clear understanding of past events.
Question 4:
Knowledge about past lives is useful to complete our knowledge of the
world we live in.
Answer:
For the motion.
Modem world has expanded the frontiers of knowledge. In fact the whole world
has become a global village. Within a few seconds we become aware of incidents
happening thousands of miles away. Information technology has indeed brought a
revolution in the field of knowledge. Still our knowledge of the world is
incomplete without the knowledge about past lives. We are the direct
descendants of our ancestors and we must be aware of the circumstances in which
they existed and how they coped with them. The structure of future is rooted in
the past. We draw lessons from the past and make improvements. The fives of the
people of the past are like beacon fights to guide and inspire us and enlighten
us about the world we five in.
Against the motion:
We are constantly learning new things about the world we live in. The knowledge
of our present circumstances and future prospects is more important than the
knowledge about past fives. Their traditions, rituals, tools, ways of conduct
and ethos are not going to help us in our struggle for existence in the highly
competitive and complex modem world. The knowledge about past lives can at best
make us retrograde instead of being progressive. For many of us the world means
their sphere of activities and the environment they five in. People aim at
specializing in restricted fields instead of being Jack of all trades. As such
the knowledge of the world we need is also restricted to our requirements and
we need not bother about knowledge about past fives.
C.
Thinking About Language
Read the following piece of information from The Encyclopedia of
Language by David Crystal.
“Egyptian is now extinct: its history dates from before the 3rd millennium BC,
preserved in many hieroglyphic inscriptions and papyrus manuscripts. Around the
2nd century AD, it developed into a language known as Coptic. Coptic may still
have been used as late as the early 19th century and is still used as a
religious language by Monophysite Christians in Egypt.”
Question 1:
What do you think are the reasons for the extinction of languages?
Answer:
A language becomes extinct when its use is restricted to certain classes or
categories of people. Secondly, the harshness of rules and lack of flexibility
in usage also contribute to the extinction of languages.
Question 2:
Do you think it is important to preserve languages?
Answer:
I think it is important to preserve languages. Various languages are the
vehicles of thought and medium of interaction between the users of that
language and the outside world. A language has intimate connection with the
lives, culture and civilization of the people and reflects their thinking.
Question 3:
In what ways do you think we could help prevent the extinction of languages
and dialects?
Answer:
Certain steps must be taken to help prevent the extinction of languages and
dialects. The most important is to encourage its use. A language thrives as
long as it is used by masses. Measures should be taken to propagate the languages
and dialects used in certain areas. The help of interpreters may be provided
for interaction between native users of language/dialect and non-users. Certain
incentives in the form of stipends, scholarships, preferences in jobs etc. may
also prove handy in attracting the youth towards languages and dialects which
are on the verge of extinction. State patronage can also help in the
preservation of languages.
D.
Working With Words
Question 1:
Given below are some interesting combinations of words. Explain why they
have been used together:
Answer:
In each combination of words, one word is an adjective and it modifies as well
as reinforces the meaning of the noun following/preceding it. Let us try to
understand the meaning of each combination of words:
·
ghostly dust devils: ghost-like
wicked evil spirits formed by dust.
·
dark-bellied clouds: bulging/swelling
clouds
·
desert sky: the sky over the desert
·
casket gray: the grey sky hiding the stars
in it
·
stunning artifacts: extremely
attractive man-made objects if) eternal brilliance: everlasting shine
·
funerary treasures: treasures
stored following rituals of funeral
·
ritual resins: resins applied according to
religious rites
·
scientific detachment: aloofness of
a scientist
·
virtual body: body made to appear to exist by
computer software.
II. Here are some commonly used medical terms. Find out their meanings:
Answer:
·
CT scan: a medical-test in which a
machine produces a three dimensional picture of the inside of a person’s body
on a computer screen after taking X-rays.
·
MRI: an abbreviation for magnetic
resonance imaging—a technique for producing images of body organs by measuring
the properties of atomic nuclei in a strong magnetic field.
·
Tomography: a technique for displaying a
cross section through a human body (or other solid object) using X-rays or
ultrasound.
·
Autopsy: an examination of a dead body
to discover the cause of death or the extent of disease.
·
Dialysis: a technique of clinical
purification of blood, as a substitute for the normal functions of the kidney.
·
ECG: abbreviation for
electrocardiogram or electrocardiograph; preparing a graph showing the
measurement and recording the activity in the heart using electrodes placed on
the skin.
·
Post mortem: medical examination of the body
of a dead person in order to find out how he died.
·
Angiography: radiography of blood or lymph
vessels, carried out after introduction of a substance that is opaque to X-ray.
·
Biopsy: an examination of tissue taken
from the body to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease.
III. Notice these expressions in the text. Guess the meaning from the
context.
Answer:
·
forensic reconstruction: activity of
building again something damaged or to help scientific test to solve a crime
·
scudded across: moved quickly across something
·
casket gray: a small gray box or grey sky
·
resurrection: a new beginning for something
which is old
·
funerary treasures: collection of
valuable things used at a funeral
·
circumvented: found a way of avoiding a
difficulty or a rule
·
eerie detail: strange and frightening little
bits of facts.
E.
Things to do
I. The constellation Orion is associated with the legend of Osiris, the
god of the afterlife.
Find out the astronomic descriptions and legends associated with the
following:
1. Ursa Major
(Saptarishi Mandala)
2. Polaris (Dhruva
tara)
3. Pegasus (Winged
horse) (iv) Sirius (Dog star)
4. Gemini (Mithuna)
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