Critical Thinking (Know Thyself)
Working with words
Find the words from the text that match with the following meanings.
a. shuffling: walking by dragging one's feet along or without lifting
them fully from the ground
b. doodling: drawing pictures or patterns while thinking about something else
c. plaque: a piece of flat metal with writing on it
d. precept: a general rule intended to regulate behaviour or thought
e. sneak: move or go in a furtive or stealthy way
Consult your teacher and define the following thinking skills.
a. Convergent thinking is a type of thinking that involves narrowing down a range of possibilities to find a single, correct solution to a problem. It's a step-by-step process that relies on facts, data, and previous knowledge, it is also known as analytical thinking.
b. Divergent thinking is the ability to come up with multiple solutions or ideas in response to a single problem or question. It's a more free-flowing process that involves brainstorming, exploring different options, and being open to new possibilities. It's also known as lateral thinking.
c. Critical thinking is the ability to evaluate information and arguments to form a judgement. It's the ability to assess and analyze information, ask questions, identify underlying assumptions, and recognize implications and consequences. It's also known as reflective thinking.
d. Creative thinking is the ability to come up with new and innovative ideas or solutions. It's the ability to think outside the box, to see problems in new ways, and to generate original ideas. It's also known as innovative thinking.
Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
a. Who was Jack? How did he make children laugh?
Jack is one of the students in the English class. He was one of the students who would sit next to protagonist. He had a lot of friends and made people laugh by saying jokes.
b. Why are “Sharks” important to Reid?
Sharks are important to Reid because he seems to think that they play an important role in the ocean's ecosystem by eating dead things.
c. What does Mr. Browne think about the most important thing?
Mr. Browne thinks that the most important thing of all is "Who we are", meaning understanding and being true to ourselves. He encourages the students to think about the question of "Who we are" and to understand themselves better.
d. What is that has not been noticed by the student?
The thing that has not been noticed by the student is the message in the notice board of the school entrance gate that writes “Know Thyself”.
e. How did Jack make fun of the English class?
When the teacher asked, "Why are you here?" Jack made fun of the English class by responding that they were there to attend English class.
f. What were the students going to do at the end of the month?
At the end of the month, the students were going to write an essay related to the concept of precepts.
g. What particular act of students surprised a girl student?
After graduating, students used to create their very own personal precept, write it down on a postcard, and mail it to Mr. Browne. This surprised the girl student as it's not a normal student behaviour.
Critical thinking
Have you made your own precept after you read this lesson? What is it?
Yes, I have made a precept "Treat others as you wish to be treated." It is a simple yet powerful statement that can serve as a guide for ethical behavior. It's based on the principle of reciprocity, which suggests that people should treat others the way they would want to be treated. This precept encourages treating others with kindness, compassion, and respect, and is a reminder that all human beings deserve to be treated with dignity and empathy.
The principle of treating others as you would like to be treated can be traced back to ancient philosophy, including Confucianism, Taoism, and the ethical teachings of the major world religions, such as Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. It is present in many different cultures and religions and is a fundamental moral principle that is widely accepted across the globe.
One of the benefits of this precept is that it helps us to put ourselves in other people's shoes and to understand how our actions might affect them. For example, if we want to be treated with kindness, then we should also be kind to others. If we want to be treated with fairness, then we should be fair in our interactions with others. By following this precept, we can ensure that our actions align with our values and promote the greater good.
Additionally, it not only guides us in how we interact with others but also encourages self-reflection. To treat others as we would like to be treated, we must first understand what it is that we value and what it is that we wish for from others. It can be a useful tool for personal growth and self-improvement, as it challenges us to consider how we can be better people.
Furthermore, the precept can be applied to different areas of life, it encourages treating others with compassion and understanding in personal relationships, it encourages treating colleagues and employees with respect and fairness in professional relationships, and it encourages treating everyone with dignity and empathy in daily interactions. By following this precept, we can build stronger and more meaningful connections with the people around us and contribute to a more harmonious and compassionate society.
According to Josh Lanyon, “If there was one life skill everyone on the planet needed, it was the ability to think with critical objectivity.” Justify this statement with your logic.
Josh Lanyon's statement highlights the importance of critical thinking as a life skill. Critical thinking involves the ability to analyze information, identify biases, evaluate evidence, and make logical and rational decisions. It is an essential tool for making sense of the complex and ever-changing world around us, and it enables us to navigate the constant influx of information that we encounter daily.
When individuals have the ability to think with critical objectivity, they are able to make well-informed decisions, and are less likely to fall prey to manipulation or misinformation. It also allows people to form their own opinions and thoughts based on facts and logical arguments, rather than basing them on emotions or preconceived notions.
Furthermore, critical thinking is especially important in today's world where access to information is easier than ever before and people are bombarded with information from various sources, some of them can be misinformation or bias, so critical thinking enables us to evaluate the credibility and reliability of the sources and to determine the accuracy of the information.
In short, critical thinking is a vital life skill that allows individuals to make sense of the world around them, to make informed decisions and to navigate the complexities of life. This is why the ability to think with critical objectivity is an essential life skill for everyone on the planet.
Writing
Write an email to your friend explaining an interesting class you had.
From: seekoguide@gmail.com
To: dibas.dauliya@gmail.com
Subject: Science Class Today
Hello Dibas,
Hope you're doing well. I just wanted to tell you about the science class I had today, it was really interesting! We learned about Photosynthesis and the process of how plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
The teacher showed us an experiment that demonstrated how the chlorophyll in leaves traps light energy and converts it into chemical energy, it was really cool to see the whole process in action. We also learned about the different types of pigments that are found in plants and how they play a role in photosynthesis.
The class also discussed the importance of photosynthesis in the ecosystem, how plants play a crucial role in the carbon and oxygen cycle and how they provide food and oxygen for animals and humans. It was a great reminder of how interconnected everything is in the environment.
I also liked how the teacher related the class topic to sustainable living and how we can utilize photosynthesis for renewable energy, it was an eye opener for me.
Anyway, I hope you're having a good day! Let me know if you want me to share more about the class or any other subjects.
Take Care,
SEE Ko Guide.
Grammar
Question Tag
A question tag is a grammatical structure added to the end of a sentence that allows you to confirm information or ask for agreement or confirmation. The structure typically consists of a subject and an auxiliary verb, and it's placed at the end of a statement in order to turn it into a question. For example: "You're coming to the party, aren't you?"
Question tags are typically used to confirm information or ask for agreement or confirmation in a polite or indirect way. They are often used to check for understanding or to make a polite request. They are also used in conversation to show interest or to keep a conversation going.
The basic rule for forming question tags is:
A positive statement is followed by a negative tag, and a negative statement is followed by a positive tag.
Examples:
Positive statement: You're going to the party tonight, aren't you?
Negative statement: You aren't going to the party tonight, are you?
However, this rule is not always true, The exact form of the tag depends on the tense and form of the main verb in the sentence.
For example :
- If the sentence is in the present tense, the auxiliary verb should be in the present form (am, is, are)
- If the sentence is in the past tense, the auxiliary verb should be in the past form (was, were)
Excuse me, do you mind if we have a chat?, you?
In this context the phrase "Excuse me, do you mind if we have a chat?" is a polite way to ask for permission to start a conversation. so, the tag "do you" is in line with a polite request as it's confirming that the person the speaker is talking to is amenable to having a chat and it's asking for agreement.
In this case, the question tag 'do you' confirms that the person is okay with having a conversation rather than seeking a confirmation of a statement.
Rewrite the following sentences adding appropriate question tag.
a. Gill does not know Ann, does she?
b. I’m very patient, aren't I?
c. They’d never met me before, had they?
d. Listen carefully, won't you?
e. Let’s have a break, shall we?
f. Let us invite them, shall we?
g. Hari used to live in France as a boy, didn't he?
h. You’d better not take a hard drink, shouldn't you?
i. Sheep eat grass, don't they?
j. Mr. Pande can speak nine languages, can't he?
k. She’s finished her classes, hasn't she?
l. She barely managed to reach the goal, didn't she?
m. Don’t let him swim in that pond, will you?
n. There are lots of people here, aren't there?
Read the following situations. What do you say in these situations? Use question tags
a. The sky is full of cloud. You can see lightning and hear thunder.
It’s going to rain soon, isn't it?
b. You want to pay the taxi fare but you are short by 100 rupees.
Shyam, you don't have 100 rupees, do you?
c. You have met a stranger at a party and you want to have a chat with him/ her.
Excuse me, do you mind if we have a chat?, do you?
d. You came out of the film hall with your friend. You enjoyed the film.
The film was really good, wasn't it?
e. You and your friend listened to a comedian on the stage and felt spellbound by his/her performance.
He gave an excellent performance, didn't he?
f. You think your friend’s father has arrived from the US but you are not sure.
Your father is back from the US, isn't he?
g. You think Susan will join the new job tomorrow but you are not sure.
Susan will start the new job, won't she?
h. Your friend’s hair looks too short.
You have got a haircut, didn't you?
i. You want to go for a picnic with your friends in class.
Let’s go for a picnic, shall we?
j. You want permission from your father to go for a walk.
Let me go for a walk, can I?