Question

Read the following passage and do the activities.

A1. Complete the following web with the help of the passage.

A2. Who said to whom?

1. "Why is he not with us in the school ?"
2. "Sir, I have never thought about it. We are born to work."

Friends, we can do this. Governments must make child-friendly policies, and invest in education and young people. Businesses must be more responsible, accountable and open to innovative partnerships. Intergovernmental agencies must work together to accelerate action. Global civil society must rise above the business-as-usual and fragmented agendas. Faith leaders and institutions, and all of us must stand with our children. We must be bold, we must be ambitious and we must have the will. We must keep our promises. Over fifty years ago, on the first day of my school, I met a cobbler boy of my age sitting outside the gate of my school. I asked my teachers: "Why is he working outside? Why is he not with us in the school?" My teachers had no answer. One day, I gathered the courage to ask the boy's father. He said: "Sir, I have never thought about it. We are poor, we are born to work." His answer made me angry. It still makes me angry. As a child, I had a vision of tomorrow. A vision of that cobbler boy sitting with me in my classroom. Now, that tomorrow has become TODAY. I am TODAY, and you are TODAY. TODAY it is time for every child to have a right to life, right to freedom, right to health, right to education, right to safety, right to dignity, right to equality, and right to peace. TODAY, beyond the darkness, I see the smiling faces of our children in the blinking stars. TODAY, in every wave of every ocean, I see my children are playing and dancing. TODAY, in every plant, in every tree, and mountain, I see our children growing freely with dignity. Friends, I want you to see and feel this TODAY inside you. My dear sisters and brothers, as I said many interesting things are happening today. May I please request you to put your hand close to your heart - close your eyes and feel the child inside you? I am sure you can - Now, listen to that child. Listen, please. Today, I see, thousands of Mahatma Gandhis, Nelson Mandelas and Martin Luther Kings calling on us. Let us democratise knowledge. Let us universalise justice. Together, let us globalise compassion! I call upon you in this room, and all across the world. I call for a march from exploitation to education. I call for a march from poverty to shared prosperity, a march from slavery to liberty, and a march from violence to peace. Let us march from ignorance to awakening. Let us march from darkness to light. Let us march from mortality to divinity. Let us march!

A3. Solve the crossword puzzle using words from passage referring to the clues given below:

Down:	Across:
1. of the people, by the people, for the people	3. A place to rest
2. To move forward	4. Father of our nation

A4. Do as directed:

(i) I see the smiling faces of our children in the blinking stars.
(Begin the sentence with "The smiling faces ..............)

(ii) His answer made me angry.

(Begin the sentence with "I...............)

A5. "Let us march from darkness to light" - Elaborate.

Answer 1

A1. 

A2.

1. The writer asked his teachers.
2. The cobbler boy's father told the writer.

A3.

A4.

1. The smiling faces of our children in the blinking stars can be seen by me.
2. I got angry by his answer.

A5. The given line alludes to the formation of a society free of the shackles of poverty and superstitions. It is an appeal to people to join forces and work together to create a world of equality and dignity. A world in which everyone is given equal opportunities and platforms to develop and express their talents. A world like this will bring prosperity and peace to everyone.