NEB Grade XII Compulsory English Note | Language Development | Unit 18 A Life of Sound and Silence

Unit 18

A Life of Sound and Silence

Working with words

A. Find the single words for the following definitions. The words are given in the jumbled letters at the end.

a. A person who hates or distrusts mankind ………. imaseponrth

misanthrope

b. A sensation of noise, such as a ringing or roaring ………. stiniunt

tinnitus

c. An examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death….. osyaput

autopsy

d. A musical composition or movement for five instruments or voices…..itqneut

quintet

e. A severe life-threatening illness caused by a bacterium. ….. simetining

f. An object that directs one's attention away from something else…. nodsitstarc

distraction

g. The action or process of becoming impaired or inferior in quality, functioning, or condition………… nedotietraroi

deterioration

h. Failing to perceive something……… ntpimepcirepe

impercipient

i. A hearing disorder that makes it hard to deal with everyday sounds………… sihpyraesuc

hyperacusis

j. A bacterial infection usually spread by sexual contact………….. pysslihi

syphilis

Comprehension

A. Put the following events in the life of Beethoven in chronological order.

c. Beethoven was born into a musical family in Bonn, Germany.

e. He learned to play the organ, piano, violin, and viola.

a. He migrated to Vienna.

h. At the age of twenty-seven, he felt the deafness to high-pitched sound.

d. His deafness got gradually worse: He could hear but not understand.

g. He lived a life in seclusion.

b. He even made suicidal attempts.

f. He died of hepatitis at the age of fifty-six.

B. State whether the following statements are True or False.

b. Beethoven became blind in a gradual process over two decades.

True

c. He became a celebrity musician in his teenage.

True

d. He did not disclose his hearing problem for a long time.

True

e. He knew that he misunderstood the speakers and gave up his public performances.

False

f. He tried to get his deafness treated until his death.

True

g. Beethoven died in his early fifties.

False

h. Doctors found the cause of his deafness after his death.

False

C. Answer the following questions.

a. What does Hellen Keller think about deafness and blindness?

Hellen Keller thought blindness separates people from things, deafness separates people from people.

b. Why does the author compare Beethoven with Milton, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec?

The author compares Beethoven with Milton, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec because Milton was blind, van Gogh’s ear, and Toulouse-Lautrec’s absinthism.

d. When and how did Beethoven notice him being deaf?

At the age of twenty seven, he first became apparent about his loss of ability to hear high-pitched sounds, an indication of nerve deafness.

e. What psychological effects did he have when he noticed that he was being deaf?

Beethoven’s deafness led to fear, lack of self-esteem, emotional disarray, increasing isolation, and self-neglect.

f. How did he triumph over his suicidal thoughts?

He triumphed over his suicidal thoughts with his morality and music.

g. How did he accept his deafness?

He accepted his deafness by noting his deafness should be no longer a secret, on the sketches for the Razumovsky Qurartets.

h. How was his deafness ironically good for the world?

His deafness is ironically good for the world as it heightened his abilities as a composer by permitting a total concentration within a world of increasing auditory seclusion.

i. When did Beethoven give up his musical performances forever?

Beethoven gave up his musical performances forever after his last public piano performance in January 1815.

j. What did Stephen von Breeuning comment on Beethoven’s reactions?

Stephan von Breuning commented that Beethoven had become withdrawn and often mistrusted his best friends.

k. How did Beethoven express the conflict in his mind?

Beethoven expressed the conflict in his mind composing the wonderful music, writing letters to his friends.

Critical thinking

a. Suicidal thoughts came in Beethoven’s mind several times but he did not commit suicide and kept on composing music. Write a monologue in about 150 words from Beethoven’s perspectives describing his suicidal thoughts and his will to live.

I guess everyone thinks that I'm happy. My hearing has grown steadily worse for three years. I am in despair. I sit quiet and watch people smiling. But I am still wondering why I can't smile like them.

My extraordinary deafness obliges me to lean up close against the orchestra in order to understand the actors, and when a little way off I hear none of the high notes. Frequently, I can hear the sounds of a low conversation, but cannot make out the words. As soon as anybody shouts, I can’t bear it. Heaven alone knows what is to become of me.

It is surprising that some people have never noticed my deafness. My ears whistle and buzz continually, day and night. Such condition is truly frightful. This pain and humiliation are so unbearable. No one understands me, and they never will. I'm broken. I scream, but no sounds are coming out of my mouth. I think I should kill myself. I have to end my life. No..No, I have to live for my art. My infirmity can be my strength. This may allow myself to listen to inner sounds without distraction. My deafness may heighten my abilities as a composer.

b. Was it divine inspiration or rigorous practice that made Beethoven one of the world’s greatest musicians? Give the reasons.

Beethoven is widely considered to be one of the pre-eminent classical music figures of the Western world. He was born into a musical family. Music was in his family’s blood. His father and grandfather were musicians, but it became obvious that early that Beethoven was special. His father was a strict teacher who had to force him to practice. With the example of the young Mozart in mind, Beethoven’s father relentlessly drove his as a musical performer. As a child, Beethoven learned to play the organ, piano, violin, and viola. He gave his first public concert at the age of seven. At twelve years, he published his first composition. Beethoven moved to Vienna in 1792 to take lessons from Joseph Haydn, and within a few years was renowned both as a composer and as a performer.

Writing

Who is your favourite Nepali musician? Write his/her biography in about 300 words.

Arun Thapa

Arun Thapa was a Nepali singer and songwriter. As per an international poll conducted by BBC in 2003, more than half-a million people from 165 countries voted his composition 'Reetu haruma timi hariyali basant hau', his most famous romantic song, as the seventh in the world's top 10 most popular songs of all time.

Thapa was born in India on 6 January 1952. His father was Ganju Prasad Thapa. His parents moved back to Nepal when Arun was 3 months old. He studied and grew up in Kathmandu. He completed his high school education in Kathmandu. He later studied at Prithvi Narayan Campus, Pokhara for an Intermediate in Arts, but soon dropped out to look for a career in music.

He started singing at his college where he was in love with a girl. Most of his songs were in memory of their relationship. Though he recorded many songs, his career started from his super hit song 'Jati Maya Laye Pani'. He had worked in Nepal Bank Limited before being a popular singer.

He suffered from lung and liver ailment. He died on 22 July 1999 in Kathmandu. He had a soulful voice. His magical voice made him immortal.

Grammar

Prepositions

B. Fill in the blanks with appropriate prepositions.

a. I was accompanied to the hospital ……………my friend. with

b. I have great respect ………………my teachers. for

c. The culprit was sentenced………………..death. to

d. His arguments are not based………………truth. on

e. He has not contributed ……………..the development of our nation. to

f. He died …………of Corona at the age of thirty-five. of

g. The young generation of Nepali people don’t take interest ………politics. in

h. Our village was not infected ………..Corona. with

i. Why do you sneer ………….me? at

C. Fill in the blanks with for, since, until, by or in.

a. The classes will be over ………………..5 PM. by

b. Karma Sherpa reached the top of Mt. Everest………..8 hours. in 

c. We had met after five years. So we kept on talking…………three in the morning. until

d. She has been living in America…………………..she got married. since

e. He has been playing video game……………..ten hours. for

f. She practices the Sitar every day………….five hours. for

g. He lived in Jumla…………………..he passed high school examinations. since

h. There is no chance of dry weather even today. It has rained …….. last Saturday. since

i. I can type 120 words……………..a minute. in

j. We take an early breakfast. It’s generally ready …….. six in the morning. by