Hobby Turns Into A Successful Career (Prose)

Unit 2 – Prose

Hobby Turns into a Successful Career

Warm Up

Look at the pictures. Discuss in pairs and share your answers with your friends.
1. What is the girl doing? _____
2. What is the man doing? ____
3. Will you like doing it? Why? ______
4. Do you like gardening? Why? _____
5. What are the benefits of listening to music? _______

Section I – Reading

Once there was a boy named Mani. He was studying at the school in his village. He found it difficult to read and write. His grandfather noticed it and helped him by reading bedtime stories. Gradually, he started reading on his own. Now, he not only enjoyed reading but also has started writing his own stories. Let us read an essay written by Mani.

Hobbies are the activities that we do in our spare time. Hobbies are unique to people.
Some like gardening, a few like photography, many have book reading as their hobby. While other hobbies are swimming, collecting stamps, playing video games, and many more.

People have hobbies not only to pass their free time but also to do something useful. Hobbies help people learn new things, relax after a day of tiring work and to energise their body and mind. Same is the case with me. I love writing, so it is my hobby.

“Whatever you like to do, make it a hobby.”
— Warren Buffet

Writing is a unique hobby because most people don't want to exhaust themselves in their spare time. Many feel that writing is tough, but I do not think so. I feel writing is like painting our voice. When I get free time, I pick a pen and a notebook and start painting my ideas in words. I write stories, poems and sometimes, about my feelings. My mind relaxes when I pour my thoughts as words. So, writing energises me.

When I write things, my imagination is at its best. I imagine a world with magic and magicians, where I can fly, and birds can talk. Writing helps me completely immerse myself into that world! Sometimes, I sit with small children and entertain them with these stories of mine. The happiness on their faces makes me to write more and better.

Although writing is just a hobby for me, yet it is very beneficial. It opens my mind to think beyond the little things with a broader mind. It makes me more passionate about my life. It makes me learn new things and enjoy every moment of my life.

“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.”
— Mark Twain

My hobby helped me in school too. When I started writing things, I was unable to describe them accurately. With time, my experiences helped me think of new ideas and this made me a good writer.

Now, I look out for things, which I was not able to see before. Hence, I can describe things better in my stories. I feel no problem with writing English essays or stories as it is my hobby. To become a better writer, I spend time on learning how to write in different forms like fiction and non-fiction. It is important to always learn and improve our hobbies. Who knows? One day I could be a writer like R.K. Narayan!

Glossary

• unique (adj) – distinctive / uncommon
• exhaust (v) – tire out
• energises (v) – give energy
• passionate (adj) – intense / heartfelt
• accurately (adv) – exactly
• fiction (n) – imaginative writing
• spare (adj) – extra

Read and Understand

A. Say true or false.
1. Mani's hobby is playing cricket.
2. Hobbies are unique to people.
3. People have hobbies only to pass time.

B. Choose the correct answer.
1. Mani imagined a world with _.
a) music and musicians b) building and sculptures c) magic and magicians
2. When Mani started writing things, he was unable to _.
a) describe them accurately b) describe them fluently c) describe them imaginatively
3. Mani feels writing is like ___.
a) painting the voice b) engraving the voice c) designing the voice

Section II – Reading

Ajay Kumar Garg is a very talented young artist. He lives in Jaipur, India. His childhood was going on well, until he suffered an injury at the age of three. Ajay was treated, but that treatment left him permanently hearing impaired. His parents tried several hospitals to cure his impairment, but it didn't cure him. His father once bought him a paint set to play. Ajay started to paint happily. He painted on the walls, floors etc. He looked happy while using the paint set that was gifted to him. Soon, Ajay’s father realised that Ajay was talented in painting.

When Ajay was five years old, a court artist of Dholpur (Rajasthan), Shri Sua Lal, saw his painting and was very impressed with his work. He then took Ajay and started training him.

After completing his education, Ajay tried tailoring but that didn’t make him happy so he went back to painting. He became an apprentice of Asha Devi. She taught Ajay the old and dying technique of 'Traditional Indian Miniature Painting'. He mastered the technique of preparing colors and brushes and gained knowledge of the paintings. Soon he became an accomplished artist in the miniature style. He uses a magnifying glass and a single-haired brush for miniature paintings that depict Indian culture. Ajay is gifted in the practice of creating images on a grain of rice.

Ajay exhibited his work and sold 144 out of the 150 paintings displayed. He continued to show his work throughout India, the United States and the United Kingdom. In 2004, Ajay was awarded a national award of accomplishment from the Indian President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Apart from painting, Ajay is also very actively involved in the welfare of people with hearing impairment in India and has been the executive member of the 'Deaf & Dumb Association' in Rajasthan. He also gives free training to hearing impaired children in Jaipur as well as children in an orphanage in Gandhi Nagar, Jaipur. One of Ajay’s current goals is to revitalise the dying art of traditional miniature Indian paintings.

Ajay’s life shows us that we can turn our hobby or passion into a successful career, if we are ready to learn and develop our skills.

Glossary

• impairment (n) – disability
• miniature (adj) – very small of its kind
• accomplished (adj) – fulfilled
• magnifying (adj) – enhancing
• exhibited (v) – show or reveal
• revitalise (v) – re-energise

Read and Understand

A. Write true or false.
1. Ajay Garg is an artist.
2. Asha Devi taught Ajay the miniature painting.
3. Ajay displayed 150 paintings.
4. Ajay was awarded by the Indian president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

B. Answer the following questions.
1. What was Ajay gifted with?
2. How was he honoured?
3. What is Ajay's current goal?
4. How does Ajay turn his hobby into a successful career?

Section III – Reading

The hard working and the passionate people always chase their dream and live it. Ilavazhagi is one among the many to achieve her dream amidst all odds. Mr. A. Irudayaraj, her father, was a district level champion in carrom. His dream shattered, since his family did not encourage and support him. He was determined to achieve his dream through his daughter. He used to put his daughter on the carrom board, while she listened to the sounds of striker and coins. When she was two years old, he would carry her with him to the tournaments; he played with his friends at local clubs.

Her father began coaching her when she was around five. One day her father called her for a match, and she won that match, which gave her confidence. The confidence led her to win. Her victories included the Asia Cup, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Cup and the world championship.

Irudhayaraj, a fish-cart driver who transports materials like pipes to make a living for his family – a wife and three daughters. They lived in a small one-room apartment in Vyasarpadi, Chennai, is not enough to accommodate the family. The trophies she has won over the years are too many, and her home is just not big enough to keep them. The trophies left over after filling the space under the bed, were given to the neighbours and relatives. Financing the trips has always been a big trouble, though she has been playing for the state for almost 14 years. Still she says "Victories follow me".

Ilavazhagi is a member of the Thiruvallur District Carrom Association and also represented India at the Carrom World Championships and Asian Championships.

Achievements

1. 5th World Carrom Champion, 2008 in France.
2. Women’s singles title at the 38th Senior National Carrom Championships in Visakhapatnam, 2009.
3. Women’s singles title in the 37th National Carrom Championship in Chennai, 2008.
4. 13th SAARC Carrom Championship women’s doubles with Rashmi Kumari in 2009.
5. The two time SAARC Carrom Championship women’s singles title in 2009.
6. World Cup winner in 2006 and the next was the 2010 championship in the US where she secured the first place in singles and doubles.

She holds 260 medals, out of which 106 are gold, 17 are silver & 12 are bronze medals won in national competitions. She has won 111 gold, 9 silver and 5 bronze medals in international tournaments.

Her hobby of playing carrom took her to the level of world champion.

Glossary

• accommodate (v) – to adapt
• trophies (n) – a decorative cup given as a token of victory
• shattered (v) – break, damage or destroyed

Read and Understand

A. Fill in the blanks.
1. Mani's grandfather noticed it and helped him by reading _.
2. Ajay mastered the techniques of _.
3. Ilavazhagi won her first match against ____.

B. Choose correct synonyms for the italic word.
1. Writing is a unique hobby.
a) common b) beneficial c) uncommon d) separate
2. Ajay started to paint happily.
a) depressed b) joyfully c) unhappily d) sadly
3. Miniature paintings depict Indian culture.
a) warp b) portray c) twist d) falsify

C. Choose correct antonyms for the italic word.
1. Ajay suffered an injury.
a) sorrow b) endure c) hurt d) mourn
2. Ajay mastered the techniques of painting.
a) skilled b) proficient c) unskilled d) experienced
3. Ilavazhagi won world championship in 2008.
a) attain b) succeed c) lost d) achieved

D. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.
1. What happened to Ajay when he was three?
2. What did Asha Devi teach Ajay?
3. Why writing is beneficial according to Mani?

E. Answer the following questions in 100 words.
1. How did Ajay’s father find his son’s talent?
2. Write about Ilavazhagi and her achievements.

Vocabulary

Singular and Plural

Some nouns become plural when we change the vowels.

'us' → 'i'	'is' → 'es'	'um' → 'a'
cactus → cacti	hypothesis → hypotheses	bacterium → bacteria
fungus → fungi	oasis → oases	medium → media
syllabus → syllabi	crisis → crises	curriculum → curricula

Some nouns have same form for singular and plural.
- deer, fish, hair, furniture, luggage

Add 's' to the first word in hyphenated word.
- passer-by → passers-by
- sister-in-law → sisters-in-law

Write the plural form of the given words
1. food → _ 6. commander-in-chief → _
2. radius → _ 7. thesis → _
3. governor-general → _ 8. forum → _
4. syllabus → _ 9. cattle → _
5. datum → _ 10. genius → _

Compound Words

Compound words are formed when two or more words are put together to form a new word with a new meaning.

Noun + Noun	Gerund + Noun	Noun + Verb
head + master = headmaster	dining + hall = dining hall	snow + fall = snowfall
key + board = keyboard	washing + machine = washing machine	car + park = car park
cell + phone = cell phone	waiting + hall = waiting hall	book + mark = bookmark

A) Match the following compound words and write them:
match + box = matchbox
air + port = airport
blood + bank = bloodbank
Pop + corn = popcorn
sky + blue = sky blue
hair + cut = haircut
sewing + machine = sewing machine

B. Choose the best answer to make a compound word
1. Which can be placed after ‘soft’? b) ware
2. Which can be placed before 'light’? b) sun
3. Which can be placed after ‘safe’? b) guard
4. Which can be placed after ‘blue’? b) print
5. Which can be placed after ‘water’? c) fall

Listening

Questions on passage
1. What is Philately?
2. What is Numismatics?
3. Do you know where the rarest and the most beautiful shells are found?
4. How painting can help unleash your creative side?
5. What is your friend’s hobby? How does it differ from yours? Discuss and write.

Speaking

Role-play the conversation in the class.

Manoj : Hi Priya! How are you?
Priya : I am fine, and what about you?
Manoj : I am fine too. What are you doing in this early morning?
Priya : I am taking care of my garden.
Manoj : Oh! What a beautiful garden it is!
Priya : It is beautiful as I work in it every day.
Manoj : Who helps you in your work?
Priya : I do it myself. It is my hobby and I have cultivated vegetables.
Manoj : Oh! that's nice. How long have you been doing this?
Priya : I have been doing this for .......
Manoj : ....................................................................................................
Priya : ....................................................................................................
Manoj : ....................................................................................................
Priya : ....................................................................................................

Continue this conversation with friends. Think of at least five to ten exchanges.

Writing

Hints Developing

• Read the hints twice or thrice carefully.
• Understand the passage well.
• Be careful to connect as naturally as possible the various points given in the text.
• Arrange the passage in two or three paragraphs.
• Give a suitable title.

Example:
Hints
Farmer in a village - had a hen - golden egg - farmer became rich - selling golden eggs - he is greedy - an egg everyday - not enough - thought to get all eggs - kill to get all eggs - killed the hen - found no eggs - farmer is very sad.

The Greedy Farmer
There lived a farmer in a village. He had a hen. The hen used to lay a golden egg every day. The farmer used to sell the golden egg in the market and got huge amount of money. Soon, he became rich. The farmer was very greedy. He thought, "At present I get an egg every day. This is not enough. Why should not I get all the eggs at a time? I must kill the hen to get all the golden eggs at a time." And the greedy farmer killed the hen. He did not find any egg. He was very sad now.

Develop the following hints into a passage:
1. Tortoise - hare - forest - tortoise walking - seen by a hare - hare laughs - tortoise speed - tortoise sad - bet - race - tortoise moving - slow speed - hare moves - fast - sleeps - tortoise - reaches winning point - first - wins the bet.
2. Akbar - Birbal - courtiers jealous of Birbal - ask Akbar - test Birbal wiseness - Courtier puts a question - How many crows in Agra - Birbal asks for a week - everyday sitting on the terrace - looking at the crows - after a week - courtier asks - Birbal says 156757 crows - asks the courtier to check - Akbar laughs.
3. A wood cutter - cutting wood - dropped his axe in the pond - started weeping - angel appeared - asked what the matter was - brought a golden axe - from the pond - wood cutter did not accept - brought a silver axe - not accepted - brought an iron axe - accepted - pleased with the honesty - offered all the axes to him.

Grammar

Adjective

An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun.

Kinds of Adjectives

1. Adjectives of Quality
Show the kind or quality of a person or thing.
- Kolkata is a large city.
- He is an honest man.

2. Adjectives of Quantity
Describe the quantity of something.
- I ate some rice.
- He has little intelligence.

3. Adjectives of Number
Show how many persons or things are meant.
- Each hand has five fingers.
- Most boys like cricket.

4. Demonstrative Adjectives
Point to "which" noun or pronoun you're speaking about.
- This lady is stronger than Maha.
- Those girls must be encouraged.

5. Interrogative Adjectives
Pose a question.
- What colour dress was the man in?
- Which way shall we go?

Degrees of Comparison

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
fast	faster	fastest
tall	taller	tallest
large	larger	largest
big	bigger	biggest
happy	happier	happiest
beautiful	more beautiful	most beautiful
good	better	best
bad	worse	worst

Fill in the blanks
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|----------|--------------|-------------|
| tall | taller | tallest |
| smart | smarter | smartest |
| large | larger | largest |
| big | bigger | biggest |
| late | later/latter | latest/last |

Let’s compare two things.
1. Which is faster? A train or a plane?
2. Which is cheaper? Gold or Silver?
3. Which is larger? City or village?
4. Which is bigger? A sea or an ocean?
5. Which is taller? A giraffe or a camel?

Let’s compare three things.
A donkey – a horse – an elephant (strong)
- A donkey is strong.
- A horse is stronger than a donkey.
- An elephant is the strongest of all.

1. Town – city – village (quiet)
2. Istanbul – Moscow – London (populated)
3. Windy weather – warm weather – rainy weather (good)
4. Ocean – river – lake (deep)
5. The USA – Russia – Spain (large)
6. The Mahanadi – The Cauvery – The Ganga (long)
7. Chennai – Hyderabad – Bengaluru (modern)
8. Giraffe – Horse – goat (tall)
9. Elephant – Cat – Dog (strong)
10. Maharashtra – Tamilnadu – Rajasthan (hot)

Practice Practice Exercises

1. What is the girl doing?

2. What is the man doing?

3. Will you like doing it? Why?

4. Do you like gardening? Why?

5. What are the benefits of listening to music?

a) play

b) ware

c) run

d) cycle

a) try

b) sun

c) horse

d) cat

a) chair

b) guard

c) shop

d) van

a) cane

b) print

c) see

d) land

a) food

b) stick

c) fall

d) out

1. What is Philately?

2. What is Numismatics?

3. Do you know where the rarest and the most beautiful shells are found?

4. How Painting can help unleash your creative side?

5. What is your friend’s hobby? How does it differ from yours? Discuss and write.

Manoj:

Priya:

1. Which is faster? A train or a plane?

2. Which is cheaper? Gold or Silver?

3. Which is larger? City or village?

4. Which is bigger? A sea or an ocean?

5. Which is taller? A giraffe or a camel?

1. Mani's hobby is playing cricket.

2. Hobbies are unique to people.

3. People have hobbies only to pass time.

1. Mani imagined a world with

a) music and musicians

b) building and sculptures

c) magic and magicians

2. When Mani started writing things, he was unable to .

a) describe them accurately

b) describe them fluently

c) describe them imaginatively

3. Mani feels writing is like

a) painting the voice

b) engraving the voice

c) designing the voice

1. Ajay Garg is an artist.

2. Asha Devi taught Ajay the miniature painting.

3. Ajay displayed 150 paintings.

4. Ajay was awarded by the Indian president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

1. What was Ajay gifted with?

2. How was he honoured?

3. What is Ajay's current goal?

4. How does Ajay turn his hobby into a successful career?

1. Mani's grandfather noticed it and helped him by reading .

2. Ajay mastered the techniques of

3. Elavalagi won her first match against

a) common

b) beneficial

c) uncommon

d) separate

a) depressed

b) joyfully

c) unhappily

d) sadly

a) warp

b) portray

c) twist

d) falsify

a) sorrow

b) endure

c) hurt

d) mourn

a) skilled

b) proficient

c) unskilled

d) experienced

a) attain

b) succeed

c) lost

d) achieved

1. What happened to Ajay when he was three?

2. What did Asha Devi teach Ajay?

3. Why writing is beneficial according to Mani?

1. How did Ajay’s father find his son’s talent?

2. Write about Elavalagi and her achievements.