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Question
Fill in the blanks choosing the words from the box given and complete the summary of the poem.
Lines 1-25
The poet Carl Sandburg gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly (1)______ in directing a son who is at the threshold of his (2) ______.
Here the father motivates his son to be like a hard(3) ______and withstand life’s (4)______ and sudden betrayals. (5)______is like a fertile soil. We can make our life fruitful if we are gentle, and take life as it comes. At times(6)______ overtakes harshness. The growth of a (7)______can split a rock. One should have a (8) ______and strong will to achieve. Greed for(9)______has left men dead before they really die. Good men also have fallen prey in quest for (10) ______money. Time for (11)______is not a waste. When you seek knowledge never feel ashamed to be called a(12)______for not knowing, at the same time learn from your (13) ______and never (14)______it.
| deep desire | manhood | gentleness | mistakes | easy |
| leisure | fool | life | money | repeat |
| tender-flower | rock | challenges | wisdom |
Lines 26-44
Do (15)______often, and do not hesitate to accept your shortcomings, avoid(16) ______to protect self against other people. Solitude helps to be (17)______and(18) ______ are taken in silent rooms. Instead of being one among many, be (19)______, if that is your nature. The son may need lazy days to find his (20)______abilities, to seek what he is born for. He will then know how free imaginations bring (21)______to the world, which (22)______ change. During such resentment, let him know that it is time for him to be on his own, and (23)______to achieve like Shakespeare, the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov, and Michael Faraday.
| changes | introspect | inherent | work | resents |
| white lies | creative | final decisions | different |
Solution
The poet Carl Sandburg gives a vivid description of a father’s worldly (1) wisdom in directing a son who is at the threshold of his (2) manhood Here the father motivates his son to be like a hard(3) rock and withstand life’s (4) challenges and sudden betrayals. (5) life is like a fertile soil. We can make our life fruitful if we are gentle, and take life as it comes. At times(6) gentleness overtakes harshness. The growth of a (7) tender-flower can split a rock. One should have a (8) deep desire and strong will to achieve. Greed for(9) money has left men dead before they really die. Good men also have fallen prey in quest for (10) easy money. Time for (11) leisure is not a waste. When you seek knowledge never feel ashamed to be called a(12) fool for not knowing, at the same time learn from your (13) mistakes and never (14) repeat it.
Lines 26-44
Do (15) introspect often, and do not hesitate to accept your shortcomings, avoid(16) white lies to protect self against other people. Solitude helps to be (17) creative and(18) final decisions are taken in silent rooms. Instead of being one among many, be (19) different, if that is your nature. The son may need lazy days to find his (20) inherent abilities, to seek what he is born for. He will then know how free imaginations bring (21) inherent to the world, which (22) resents change. During such resentment, let him know that it is time for him to be on his own, and (23) work to achieve like Shakespeare, the Wright brothers, Pasteur, Pavlov, and Michael Faraday.
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| crying | |
| judge | |
| soldier | |
| unhappy | |
| second childhood | |
| whining | |
| old man |
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| Legs wide, arms locked behind, | b |
| As if to balance the prone brow | a |
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