Unit-18 What I Require from Life
B. S. Haldane
Exercie, Summary and Theme
Understanding the text (Page 272)
Answer the following questions.
a. How does the writer distinguish between a peaceful age and a heroic age?
Ans: In a peaceful age, we can live and hope for better life. It is easy to fulfill basic needs like food, clothes and shelter. But, as the writer says, a heroic age is the time of wars. Life itself is at risk.
b. Why does the writer want more freedom of speech than most people?
Ans: As a writer, he needs more freedom than other people to point out what is wrong in society. He sees that medicines, newspapers and drinks do not maintain quality. He wants freedom of speech to tell the public about such issues.
c. According to the writer, what are the four general human needs?
Ans: According to the writer the four general human needs are work, freedom of speech, health and friendship.
d. What is the difference between desire and demand according to the writer?
Ans: Demand is related with the basic needs of life like food, clothes and shelter. But desire includes things which improve living standard. We can do without them. The writer talks about car, garden, bathing pool and nearby beach as desires.
e. Why does the writer demand security?
Ans: The writer demands security because it is also an important need for a happy life. It is the right of everyone. He lived in the age of war and saw the destruction. Armies may be involved in war, but common people need security.
Reference to the context
c. Why do you think the essayist has taken reference from the ancient philosophers?
Ans: The essayist has taken reference from the ancient philosophers like Socrates and Aristotle to support his ideas. He uses reference of Aristotle to support his idea of decent work. In the same way, he brings reference of Socrates to support his idea of death.
d. Discuss the essay in terms of its language, purpose, subject, point of view and mode of writing.
Ans: The writer has used very simple and clear language to present his ideas on socialism. His purpose is to demand equality and democratic activities for all working class people in their working places. He is against capitalism which doesn’t favour the need of working class people. According to him, capitalism is the main cause behind growing unemployment. The writer uses socialist point of view to support his ideas. He uses descriptive style to persuade his ideas.
Reference beyond the text
a. What do you require from your life to be happy and satisfied?
Ans: I require few things to be happy and satisfied in my life. I need peaceful world without any kinds of terrorism and war. I require stable government to achieve sustainable development. I want to be positive in my thought to change my life. I will figure out what make me happy and satisfied to reduce my stress. I require a balance between my mind and body to achieve a balanced health.
b. What is socialism? How is it different from capitalism?
Ans: Both of them are economic systems. Capitalist and socialist countries use them to maintain their economic resources and means of production. Socialism focuses on government planning but capitalism focuses on individual enterprise.
| Socialism | Capitalism |
| 1. Government planning is important | 1. Individual planning is important |
| 2. Maximum role of Government | 2. minimal role of Government |
| 3. Govt decides what to produce, how much to produce, and when to produce | 3. Private Sector decides what to produce, how much to produce, and when to produce |
| 4. Cost of goods and services are maintained by Govt | 4. cost of goods and services are maintained by market forces |
c. Write an essay about your dream house
Ans: My dream house is an ideal house that I always imagine. House becomes home when we pour love to our family members. It is a place where different generation live together in a single bond. So, my dream house will be full of love and happiness.
My dream house will be in Ilam’s hill. It will be surrounded by tea estates. When I will wake up in the morning, I will enjoy the clean environment of the surroundings. My dream house will be made up wood, cement and zinc. There will be 6 rooms in my house. It should be facing East direction because I want to enjoy cool air as well as rising sun view. I will make small vegetable as well as fruit garden where I will grow fresh vegetables and fruits for my family. I would like to avoid harmful vegetables from market. I would like to maintain my house neat and clean. There will be a meditation room for myself to do Yoga and meditation. I will also make one library room for my family and visitors. I will make a special room for my parents and visitors because I believe in the motto ”Helping others is as equal as praying gods”. I won’t add too much amenities in my dream house because it creates laziness. I believe that physical exercises are necessary to be healthy and fit. There will be solar panel in my house to maintain regular light. I will also add a big smart tv for my parents and visitors. My house’s wall will be decorated with beautiful wall paintings capturing nature’s true beauty.