Reading

What I require from Life

Understanding the Text

Answer the following questions.

a. How does the write distinguish between a peaceful age and a heroic age?
Ans: The writer distinguishes between a period of peace and a period of heroism and compares two different periods: he calls the moment of birth a period of peace and his youth as a period of heroism. When the First World War broke out, he wanted to live in peace but devoted himself to the heroic war.

b. Why does the writer want more freedom of speech than most people?
Ans: The writer wants more freedom of speech than the most people to say and write what he thinks about Lord Blanks newspaper, Mr Dash’s pills and Sir John Asterisk’s beer, all of which are poisonous.

c. According to the writer, what are the four general human needs?
Ans: A job with a reasonable salary, excellent health, friends, and independence are important human needs according to the writer.

d. What is the difference between desire and demand according to the writer?
Ans: Desire is something we wish to have or want, but isn’t affordable whereas demand is whatever we wish or want and is affordable.

e. Why does the write demand security?
Ans: The author calls for security because the safety of life is more important than any other aspect. Life safety is the primary aspect while other requirements are secondary. During critical times of war, the writer first claims the security of life. If the security of life is insecured, anything can be possible.

Reference to the Context

a. “The satisfaction of adventure is something much more solid than a thrill”.
Ans: The given line shows Haldane’s preference for adventure. He demands adventure. He thinks it enriches people with solid experience. Love of adventure doesn’t mean love of thrills. He compares thrill with amusement getting from reading Rimbaud’s poetry. This happens when he spent in Madrid for 6 weeks during the siege.

b. “I want the workers to see the fruit of their own work not in profits for others, but in their own and their friends’ well-being”.
Ans: Author wants to see workers being equitably benefitted for what they do hard work for. They should be allowed to work for themselves and split the profits equally. He wants to work in an atmosphere where there is more democracy. A socialist, his goal is for workers to have control over enterprises. He believes that those who work hard ought to be rewarded handsomely. The essayist’s position on socialism may be inferred from the provided line.

c. Why do you think the essayist has taken reference from the ancient philosophers?
Ans: The essayist has taken reference from the ancient philosophers to support his argument. He wants work and a decent wage for his work. When they are fulfilled it will be delightful situation which can be equivalent to the happiness. Aristotle defined as unimpeded activity. For the essayist death is the supplementary to his life. Of the recorded deaths, he thinks Socrates’ death was the most enviable as he died for his principles.

d. Discuss the essay in terms of its language, purpose, subject, point of view and mode of writing.
Ans: The writer has used simples and clear language to express his ideas abut socialism in this essay. He has done his best to present various needs of people from their daily lives. The write here is advocating for equality as well as demacratic activities in the workplace for all working-class people. His primary goal as a sociologist is to better the lives of working-class people. He desires equality for all people in all sectors. He has discussed various issuses concerning the needs, rights, and classes of people in his presentation of the major subject of life-related requirements. He has voiced his opposition to capitalism, which has resulted in widespread unemployment. As a social critic, his point of view can be seen in the essay. He began his essay in a descriptive mode, but later on, he presented his political arguments in order to persuade his readers.

Reference beyond the Text

a. What do you require from your life to be happy and satisified?
Ans: For me to be content and happy, I need to be healthy, have prestige in society and have a job with a reasonable salary.

b. What is socialism? How is it different from capitalism?
Ans: Socialism is the ideology which proposes that the means of production, distribution and trade be owned or controlled by the society as a whole. In contrast to socialism, which relies on central planning and limitations on private property rights to resources, capitalism is run on the principle of individual initiative and favours market processes over government intervention.

c. Write an essay about your dream house.
Ans: My dream house is a place of beauty, serenity and inspiration. It is a bungalow with a huge lawn, planted with fruit trees and flowering plants. There is plenty of space for a table and chairs so that when the weather is fine, my family can sit outside to have a meal or read the newspapers. There is also a lovely waterfall in the garden to soothe our minds with the sound of water falling. Birds perch on the trees to sing or nest and give us free concerts.

My dream home is large and spacious. Ther are plenty of windows to make the place bright and airy. I do hate houses that are small, cramped and all shut up. It is for this reason that I dislike living in flats or condominiums. Every room in my dream house and every piece of furniture in it is designed to create beauty, warmth and peace. My kitchen is small and neat. I am not fussy cook so I do not need a large kitchen. In Malaysia, one does not really need to cook all the time since there are plenty of restaurants. However, if I ever cook or bake, I would like to do it on the latest Italian hob and oven. My dream kitchen has a huge refrigerator and is fitted with cabinets made of oak. It also has a radio-CD player so that I can listen to music as i do my cooking. All the bedrooms in my dream house are spacious. They have attached bathrooms and are fully air-conditioned. Each has a mini-refrigerator stocked with drinks and tidbits so that there is always something to munch on even  in the bedroom. One of the most important rooms in my dream house is the library. Wonderful books on every subject in the world fill up the shelves that line the walls. I also have the latest table-top computer here on which I work or surf the internet.

Another important room is the music room where I have the latest hi-fi system to play songs and music from all over the world. I love music. My grand piano is also placed there where I often play pieces that I have composed myself.

My dream home is a place of joy, peace and beauty. Right now it exists only in my dreams. Someday, I hope it will become reality.