The Night I Met Einstein
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. Complete the following sentences.
(a) The narrator was not happy about the concert because he did not understand classical music and thought he was tone-deaf.
(b) When the narrator turned to look at his neighbour, he saw a very famous face with a shock of white hair and a pipe.
(c) Einstein was surprised to hear that the narrator had never heard of Bach or his music.
(d) The narrator’s memory has an image of Einstein as a small man with untidy hair, a pipe, and unusually warm eyes.
(e) The greatest act towards human beings is opening up the frontiers of beauty.
2. Who said to whom?
| Statement | Who | To whom | Effect on the listener |
|---|---|---|---|
| “We are going to listen to a very good pianist.” | Hostess | Narrator & guests | Narrator felt unhappy as he didn’t like classical music. |
| “I do not know anything about Bach.” | Narrator | Einstein | Einstein was surprised and curious. |
| “You are not tone-deaf.” | Einstein | Narrator | Narrator felt encouraged and hopeful. |
| “Just allow yourself to listen that’s all there is to it” | Einstein | Narrator | Narrator felt guided and motivated to try. |
3. List all the words from the story related to ‘Music’.
- concert
- pianist
- tone-deaf
- Bach
- gramophone
- songs
- tune
- music
- symphony (implied through context)
- singing
4. Rewrite the following sentences inserting the appropriate phrases in their proper form.
(a) He got out of bed and came down to the living room, to see if the door was closed.
(b) To enjoy the music and relax, he turned on the music and turned off the lights.
(c) Smita gave in to her desire and gave out her favourite toys to the poor.
(d) You should work in Mathematics so that you can work out the problem.
5. (A) Give two points of difference between:
| Instrumental Music | Vocal Music |
|---|---|
| Played using instruments like piano or guitar. | Sung using the human voice with words. |
| No lyrics or words are involved. | Includes lyrics or words to convey meaning. |
5. (B)
| Light Music | Classical Music | Folk Music |
|---|---|---|
| Simple, easy to enjoy tunes. | Complex, structured compositions. | Traditional songs of a region. |
| Popular and modern songs. | Requires training to appreciate. | Passed down orally, cultural. |
6. Prepare a word list of occupations in alphabetical order from the letters A up to T. (You may skip ‘K’ and ‘Q’)
- Actor
- Banker
- Carpenter
- Doctor
- Engineer
- Farmer
- Gardener
- Hairdresser
- Inspector
- Journalist
- Lawyer
- Musician
- Nurse
- Officer
- Painter
- Reporter
- Scientist
- Teacher
7. Rewrite the following in indirect narration.
(a) He told me that I was not tone-deaf.
(b) Einstein asked me if I could have done it.
(c) He ordered me to sing that back.
(d) He asked me what kind of music I liked.
(e) She said that she was so sorry, Dr. Einstein.
8. (A) Degrees of Comparison (Positive / Comparative / Superlative)
(1) I am not just as tall as my friend.
(2) They are as helpful as their neighbours.
(3) No other desert in Africa is nearly so big as the Sahara Desert.
(4) Very few animals in the wild are exactly as huge as an elephant.
(5) Some snacks are at least as tasty as a pizza.
8. (B) Change the Degree of Comparison, as directed and rewrite without changing the meaning.
(1) Tanvi is the most brilliant student in the class. (Superlative)
(2) A diamond is more precious than most other stones. (Comparative)
(3) Her sister’s handwriting is not as good as hers. (Positive)
(4) Jupiter is larger than any other planet. (Comparative)
(5) Some leaders are as great as he is. (Positive)
(6) This painting is the best of all paintings in the palace. (Superlative)
9. Prepare a word chain.
Pianist → Tune → End → Danger → Rich → Harmony → Yellow → Wonder
10. Pick out words that refer to the following:
(1) A musical performance in public – concert
(2) A lady who invites and looks after guests – hostess
(3) A device used to play recorded music – gramophone
(4) One who is poor at deciphering musical notes – tone-deaf
(5) Boundaries or limits of a field – frontiers
11. ‘Music is the medicine of the mind’. Narrate an experience that leads to the above conclusion. Write it in your own words, in your notebook.
(Sample Answer for Notebook) Once, I was feeling very stressed after a tough day at school. I decided to listen to my favourite songs. As the music played, I felt my worries slowly fade away. The soothing tunes calmed my mind, and I felt refreshed. This experience made me realise that music can heal our minds like medicine heals the body.
12. You will come across many famous personalities in the story. Go to library or search on internet the following names and write a few lines about the personalities given below.
(a) Albert Einstein – A famous scientist who developed the theory of relativity. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 and is known for his genius and unique way of teaching.
(b) Johann S. Bach – A German composer and musician of the 17th century, famous for his classical music compositions like organ works and symphonies.
(c) Bing Crosby – An American singer and actor known for his popular songs like “White Christmas” and his smooth voice in the 20th century.
(d) John McCormack – An Irish singer famous for his powerful voice and songs like “The Trumpeter,” popular in the early 20th century.
13. Imagine you are the monitor of the class. You are asked to conduct an interview of a famous scientist who is in your city/village. Frame 8 to 10 interview questions with the help of the following points.
- Where were you born, and how was your early life and education?
- What made you interested in this particular field of science?
- Can you share an inspirational incident from your life that shaped your career?
- Who was your guru or mentor who guided you in your journey?
- What are some of your famous inventions or discoveries, and what awards have you received?
- What are your future plans for your research or work?
- What advice would you give to youngsters who want to become scientists?
- How do you think science can help solve problems in our world today?
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