Class 11 New Compulsory English

Unit 16: Critical Thinking – What Is the Soul?

Exercise Solutions

Exercise: Ways with Words

A. Crossword Puzzle

The words for the crossword are taken from the text. Solve them using the meaning clues:

Across

• 3. Emergence or origination

• 5. Impossible to achieve or overcome – Insuperable

• 7. Appropriate or suitable – Apt

• 8. Force back – Repel

• 10. Up to now – Hitherto

Down

• 1. Unquestionable, impossible to doubt – Indubitable

• 2. Never done or known before – Unprecedented

• 4. Obviously or clearly – Evidently

• 6. Moved with a violent, irregular action – Agitated

• 9. Conservative – Orthodox

B. Vocabulary from the Text

Find the words from the text using the first letter provided:

a. Misleading or illusionary – Deceptive
b. In a natural state; not yet processed or refined – Crude
c. A mystical horse-like animal with a single horn – Unicorn
d. Never dying or decaying – Immortal
e. Come to an end; stop – Cease
f. To activate or put into motion – Actuate

Comprehension Questions

a. What’s the difference between the body and the soul?

• The body exists in time and space, whereas the soul exists only in time.

b. What do psychologists mean by saying there is no such thing as mind?

• Psychologists attempt to explain all mental activities as physical activities of the body.

c. How can mental activity be reduced to physical activity?

• Based on physics, the body is considered an elaborate scientific construction. Modern materialists try to explain mental activities in terms of bodily functions.

d. How are mind and body related?

• The mind is an emanation of the body, and the body is an invention of the mind.

e. What is the relation between mind and memory? Does memory survive death?

• Memory is the most essential feature of the mind. Since memory is linked to the brain, it ceases when the brain decays after death.

f. How is our power on Earth’s surface entirely dependent upon the Sun?

• We depend on the Sun for energy. Without it, we could hardly fulfill our wishes or survive.

Critical Thinking

a. Do you believe that the soul really exists? Write your arguments.

• Yes, I believe the soul exists. People worldwide have strong faith in divinity, forming the basis of almost all religions. Many individuals seek connection with a higher or otherworldly force, often personified as God or called the Cosmic Soul by philosophers.

• The soul reminds us of our life goals. Even during sleep, when we dream, some consciousness must remember the dream events. This indicates that our soul operates beyond conscious and unconscious states.

• The soul is permanent, while the body is temporary. Religions believe that the soul departs after death, merging with the Cosmic Soul and returning in a new body. This eternal energy guides us throughout life.

b. If you want to change your body, you first have to change your mind. Discuss.

• A balanced life requires harmony between mind and body. Thoughts guide actions. To change the body, one must change the mind by focusing on positive and pure thoughts.

• We think about 60,000 thoughts daily. By recharging our minds with good ideas and removing negative ones, we can reshape ourselves. Just as the body requires food and exercise, the mind needs nourishment, rest, and proper care to remain healthy.

• Morning mental exercises, positive input, and a quiet place for reflection can strengthen the mind and, in turn, the body.

Writing Tasks

a. The Existence of God

• Philosophers have debated the question, “Does God exist?” for centuries. Some (theists) believe without proof, while others (agnostics) demand evidence.

• Antony Flew’s story of two explorers illustrates the debate: one sees a beautiful garden and believes in a gardener’s presence, while the other refuses to be convinced without proof. Similarly, Sigmund Freud argued that religion satisfies the human need for security, and Richard Dawkins dismissed God as unnecessary in light of evolution and natural selection.

b. Religion Influences Ethics and Morality

• Religion, ethics, and morality are closely connected. What is considered right is often believed to be willed by God.

• Moral values guide religious beliefs, while religion strengthens ethical behavior. Virtues developed over time are incorporated into religious teachings. Believing that these virtues come from God gives them authority and ensures they influence human life positively.