101. Social Network
1.What kind of social networking websites do you like to use?
I mostly use the Facebook website for social networking. These days all the social networking sites have an app that we can install and use on our phones, so I don’t usually visit the websites. I use my cellphone apps.
2.Are you a social person?
I am not a very social person. However, I have a good social circle of friends. I like to meet them at least once in two-three months.
OR
I am a social person. I like to meet new people and make new friends. I have a big social circle of friends.
3.What kinds of people do you like to be friends with on those websites?
On those websites, I only have friends whom I already know or whom I know through someone. I do not make new friends on such websites.
4.Is it easy to find real friends on a social networking website?
No, it is not at all easy to find real friends on social networking websites. People make fake ids, with fake information and dupe people.
5.What kind of chatting app or software do Indian people like to use?
Indian people like to use chatting apps like, Whatsapp, Snapchat, Hike, V-chat, Viber, etc.
102. POLITENESS
1. 1. Who teaches you to be polite?
Our parents, teachers, relatives, friends and other acquaintances, teach us politeness. We also learn about the importance of politeness from stories we read and movies we watch.
2. 2. How do Indian people show politeness?
Indian people show politeness in their actions, like talking softly, spending time with the elderly, helping people, greeting others with a smile and many other such small gestures reflect politeness.
3. 3. Has the way people show politeness changed in India?
Yes, I think with the advancement in technology, the way we show politeness has changed. With the advent of the internet and social networking, it is very important to show respect to others in the way we write messages or emails, so as to not offend others. For example, when chatting with someone, it is not acceptable to type in capital letters. It is considered rude and impolite.
4. Are you angry with people who are late?
Yes, definitely I am angry with people who are late. I am very punctual myself and I feel irritated when somebody keeps me waiting.
5. Do you think that people have less free time today than in the past? Why?
Yes, I do feel that people have less free time today than in the past. Today, people have become workaholics. They run after money and in doing so they work longer hours. Moreover, today we belong to a materialistic society and to buy the luxuries we have to work more. In earlier times, life was slower and the needs of people were limited. So people had a lot of free time.
6. Do you think that the quality of living is increasing? How?
I feel that the quality of life has increased in many ways and in many ways it has gone down. People today enjoy greater comforts and have more money to enjoy life but on the other hand we face many problems today such as pollution and global warming which make the quality of life bad.
7. Today people use machinery to automate everything, is it good or bad?
It is both – good as well as bad. In many ways it is good. We have more time because of machines. We get good quality things because machines make uniform things. We do mass production because of automation and this boosts our economy as we can export things to other countries when we produce them in bulk. On the other hand, many people have lost jobs because of automation. So, unemployment occurs and this leads to many other problems in society. Machines can also not give a personal touch to things.
8. How does modern technology help to save time?
Modern technology has touched all aspects of life. In transport industry we have much faster means of travel. In communication, technology has given us tools to connect to others at the click of a mouse. In the homes, we have washing machines and microwave ovens, which save our time.
9. Do you agree that people should let machinery do everything?
I do not agree that machines should do everything. In that way we shall become slaves of our own creation. We should know when, where and how much we have to use machines. We should know where to draw the line. When we need mass production, we should take the help of machines. In doing repetitive and boring work we can let the machines take over. But wherecreativity is needed, we should do with our own hands.
103. TIME MANAGEMENT
1. Are you ever late for anything?
No, I am a very punctual person. I value time and am never late for anything, unless it is due to some unavoidable and unforeseen circumstances.
2. What excuses do you use when you are late?
I am usually not late for any meetings or appointments. However, if at all I am getting late due to an unavoidable circumstance, then I inform the person I am meeting, beforehand. I don’t make excuses.
3. What excuses do people have when they are late?
People give excuses like car or bike breakdown or that they were stuck in traffic, when they are late
4. Are you good at organizing time?
Yes, I am good at organizing time. I set up reminders for important events and meetings. I am never late for an appointment.
5. How do you usually organize time?
I sometimes set up reminders for important events or meetings, sometimes I make lists of tasks to complete, sometimes I set deadlines for myself, especially when working on an important assignment/project.
6. Do you think planning is important for time management?
Yes, planning is essential for good time management. If we don’t plan ahead, we will tend to waste time doing tasks/things which are unimportant or unnecessary.
7. Why do you think some people pay to learn time management?
Time management has become very important in today’s fast-paced world. Some people pay to take courses on time management so that they can succeed and excel at their work. Some people are not very good at organizing and managing time, so they need to take up courses on managing time well.
8. Do you think children should learn to manage time?
Yes, definitely. We live in a fast paced world and children too need to manage their time well, so that they can deal with the competition and do well at their studies and later, at their jobs.
9. Why do some people find it hard to follow their plans?
Some people find it hard to follow their plans because of other pressing commitments, like family commitments. Some people maybe too lazy to follow their plans.
10. 10.How would you teach your children time management?
Time management can be taught to children by helping them make a timetable and ensuring that they follow it. Also, children can learn easily from stories or movies, which teach them a lesson about the importance of time and managing it well. The parents are role models for children and they should set a good example for their children.
11. 11.Do old people and young people manage time in a similar way?
No, old and young people do not manage their time the same way. Old people have more life experience and they understand the importance of time management better than the young generation. The young people may be too impulsive or impatient and may not understand the importance of planning ahead. Another difference is the way the younger generation manages time. They make more use of technology and the old people may use the traditional methods, like a timetable or writing down a list of tasks.
104. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
1. Do you like fruits and vegetables? OR Do you like to eat fruit(s) and vegetables?
Yes, I like fruits and vegetables. In fact they are a part of my daily diet.
2. How often do you eat fruits and vegetables? OR Do you often eat fruit(s) and vegetables?
I eat fruits and vegetables daily. In fact seasonal fruits and vegetables are part of my daily diet.
3. Why do you think fruits and vegetables are important for us?
I think they are important because they have essential vitamins and minerals, which we must eat to be healthy.
4. What kind of fruit do you prefer?
I prefer all kinds of fruit. But I prefer seasonal fruits because they are readily available and cheap.
5. What fruit(s) (and /or vegetables) do you especially like to eat?
I like to eat allfruits and vegetables, but I especially like the okra and broccoli among the veggies and my favourite fruits are watermelon and mango.
6. Do you like the same fruits and vegetables today as you did when you were a child?
As a child, my favourite fruit used to be grapes, but now I like mango and watermelon more. Also,
I wasn’t very find of vegetables as a child. Now I love all kinds of vegetables and fruits.
7. What fruit and vegetables did you like to eat when you were a child?
I liked all fruits as a child and my favourite fruit used to be grapes. I wasn’t very fond of vegetables when I was a child.
8. Is it easy (or, convenient) to buy fruit and vegetables where you live?
Yes, it is very convenient to buy fruits and vegetables where I live. I live in a city and there are many fruit and vegetable sellers, who have stalls/standsset up in many parts of the city. In grocery stores also we have a fruits and vegetables section.
9. Do you think people should eat more fruits and vegetables?
Yes, I think people should eat more fruits and vegetables, as they contain essential vitamins and nutrients needed for a healthy body and mind. Also, it has become all the more important now to eat healthy food as most of the people lead a sedentary life.
10. Do you think it’s (really) necessary to eat fruits and vegetables? OR How important is it to eat fruit and vegetables? OR What are the benefits of eating fresh fruit (or, fresh fruits and vegetables)?
Yes, certainly. It is essential to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, as they contain nutrients like vitamins and minerals, which our body needs to function properly and to remain healthy. Also, having a healthy diet makes us feel more energetic.
11. How much fruit and vegetables do you think a person needs to stay healthy?
I think fruits and vegetables are needed as a part of our everyday diet. Many dieticians suggest that we should eat fruits and vegetables of at least five different colors everyday.
105. High school
1. Are you still in contact with your friends from high school?
Yes, I am in contact with my friends from high school. Many of them are now in different cities and countries. But we stay in touch through social networking apps and we also have reunions sometimes.
2. What is your high school like?
Give a brief description of your school – describe building(s), garden, playground and other facilities)
3. What happened on the first day of high school?
I don’t remember exactly what happened. However, I do remember that all my classmates and I were feeling like we have entered an important stage in our lives and that we are grown ups now.
4. Did your parents choose your secondary school (= high school) for you?
Yes, my parents chose my secondary school. My high school and primary school were the same.
5. What subjects did you study in secondary school (= high school)?
I studied many subjects in secondary school like, social sciences, mathematics, the Hindi and
English languages, science subjects like biology, chemistry, physics and geography, art and crafts, etc.
6. What was your favourite subject ( = class) in secondary school? (= high school)
My favourite subject in secondary school was science. I liked science subjects because I learned about the basic principles of the way things work all around us.
7. And which class (= subject) did you like the least? (Why?)
There wasn’t any subject I liked the least. I liked all the subjects in secondary school.
8. Which secondary school subject do you think is most useful for people in adult life?
I think all the subjects that we study in secondary school are useful for people in adult life. A strong foundation is built in primary and high school years that helps us throughout our life.
9. What part of your secondary school education did you enjoy most? OR Did (do) you like your secondary school life?
I enjoyed my secondary school education a lot. There is no one part that I liked more than the other. I liked the fact that our school had an equal focus on extra-curricular and physical activities, and not just on the academics.
10. How do you feel about your high school (secondary school)?
I think that high school years were the wonder years and I miss those times.
11. Why did you choose to attend (= to go to) that particular school?
My parents chose my school for me. I think I was too young to decide on my own and my parents chose the best school for my siblings and me.
12. Which class did (do) you enjoy the most? (Why?)
I enjoyed all the school years a lot. However, there was a lot of excitement and a feeling of pride when I got promoted from the primary wing of the school to the high school wing
106. Emails
1. Do you often write (or, send) emails?
No, I don’t often write/send emails. I sometimes write official emails, like for sending in a job application through email and sometimes I write to my friends.
2. What do you write about?
I sometimes I write official emails, like sending a job application. When I write to my friends or relatives, it is informal and I ask about their health and wellbeing and tell them about what’s going on in my life.
3. Do you think emails are useful?
Yes, I think that emails are very useful. Emails are convenient, timesaving, cost-effective and easy to send and receive. These days, emails are a good way to communicate for both formal and informal purposes.
4. What kinds of emails do you send and receive?
I mostly receive promotional or spam emails advertising various shopping websites or products. I sometimes receive emails from my friends who are living in another country and at times I receive official communication, e.g. emails from the bank or the Income Tax department.
5. Do you think it is a good thing that some companies send out letters/spam emails for the purpose of advertising?
I think sending spam emails for the purpose of advertising is a good marketing strategy and promotes a product or a service. However, it sometimes becomes a nuisance when it is sent repeatedly.
6. How often do you write letters?
I don’t write handwritten letters any more. If I need to, I send an email. All official and personal letters can be sent through emails now.
7. What do you write about?
It depends whom I am writing to. When I’m writing to my friends and relatives, it’s usually about what’s happening in my life and to ask about their wellbeing. When writing an official letter, it is for a specific purpose and it is formal.
8. On what occasions do you write letters?
I write letters very rarely and there are no specific occasions when I write them.
9. Do you like writing letters to your relatives and friends? (why/why not?)
Yes, I like writing to my relatives and friends, but I write emails or messages to them. I don’t write handwritten letters now.
10. 10.Do you and your friend keep in touch by (handwritten) letter?
No, I don’t stay in touch with my friends through handwritten letters. I text them or chat with them or send them an email.
11. 11.How do you keep in touch with your friends and relatives (by email, letter, by phone or by any other way)?
I stay in touch with my friends mostly through the online social media apps and websites, like Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, etc.
107. RAINY DAYS
1. Does it rain much in India? (Where? When?)
India is a diverse country with different climatic conditions in different regions. So there are some parts of India that receive a lot of rain, like Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, Amboli in Maharashtra, etc.
Some places receive a lot of rainfall only during the monsoon season, like Mumbai, Chennai, Goa, etc.
2. Does it rain much in your hometown? (Include how often)
It doesn’t rain much in my hometown. It is only during the monsoon season, that is in the months from June to August that we receive some rainfall.
3. In what season does it rain the most? OR When (in what month/season) does it rain most in your hometown?
It rains the most in my hometown in the monsoon season, that is in the months from June to August.
4. What about the other parts of India? OR In which season does it rain most in other parts of
India?
India has a varied terrain. In many parts of India, it mostly rains in the monsoon season. However, it also depends on the geographical location as it affects the rainfall in many regions.
5. Would you prefer to have, more rain or less rain (in your hometown)?
I would prefer to have more rain in my hometown. In the last few years, there has been a drastic change in the seasons and the summers get very hot. If there is more rainfall in the summers, there will be respite from the heat.
6. Do you like rainy days? OR How do you feel on rainy days? ORDo you feel sad on rainy days?
I like rainy days in the summer season because the temperatures drop and we get respite from the summer heat. In winters I am not too happy when it rains, as it becomes very cold after it rains.
7. How does rain affect different people’s moods? OR How does rain affect people’s lives?
I think rains affect people’s moods when it restricts their activities or leads to a loss in the work or business. Some people feel happy when it rains as the weather becomes pleasant and people can enjoy hot beverages and fried snacks.
8. Do you prefer rainy days or sunny days?
I prefer rainy days in the summers and sunny days in the winter season. Rains give us respite from the heat in the summers and we can enjoy sitting out in the sun on a cold winter day.
9. What do you do on rainy days (or, on a rainy day)?
I enjoy hot beverages, like coffee and fried snacks like fritters and samosas on rainy days. It gives us an opportunity to stay at home with family and spend quality time with them.
10. What do you usually do when it rains (or, when it starts to rain) and you are outside?
If it rains when I am outside, I usually look for a café or a place where I can sit and enjoy coffee and some snacks.
11. Do you think rain is good? (Why?)
Yes, I think rains are good. Rains are important to maintain the ecosystem’s balance. Rains help with maintaining the groundwater levels. They make the dust settle down and help clean the environment. For agriculture-based economies, rains during the rainy season are very important for a good crop.
12. How does rain affect (life in) your country?
Agriculture is a major part of India’s economy and that is largely dependent on timely rains. So a lot of farmers depend on a good monsoon season for a good crop. Unseasonal rains can have an adverse affect on agriculture, as it can destroy crops. In places where there is water shortage, people depend on rains and save rain water in reservoirs.
13. Is there any part of India where it doesn’t rain much? (Where?) OR Is there an even distribution of rain throughout India?
India is a diverse country with different climates in different parts. There are many parts in the east of India that experience a lot of rain throughout the year. In most parts of India, monsoon season is the time when most of the rainfall happens. In some western parts, like in the deserts of Rajasthan, there is very little rain. Sometimes some states experience droughts because of no rainfall for a very long period of time.
14. What effects can a shortage of rain (a drought) have on people’s lives?
Droughts/Shortage of rain can have adverse effects on the livelihoods of many people, especially those who are dependent on agriculture. Sometimes people are forced to leave their hometowns due to water shortage and start afresh somewhere else and face hardships. Many people die each year in India and all over the world because of droughts.
15. Can you remember any time when it rained particularly heavily in your hometown? (When?)
Yes, I remember that during my childhood it used to rain continuously for days and the roads and parks got filled with water. We used to enjoy a lot playing in the rain and in the pools of water. This used to happen during the monsoon season. Now the amount of rainfall has reduced drastically due to climate change.
16. Does rain ever affect transportation in your hometown? (How?)
Yes, sometimes the rain affects the transportation. It is mostly on some roads where the drainage system is not good or when it is blocked. At such times the water logging happens on the roads and the movement of traffic is affected.
17. Do you think the seasons have changed in recent years, compared to the past? (Why? How?)
Yes, I think seasons have changed in the recent years because of global warming and the consequent climate change. The summers last longer and the winters are shorter. Also, the amount of rainfall during the monsoon season has reduced. Sometimes we hardly get any rains during the monsoon season.