Unit-7, Lesson-6 (B)
Read the passage. Then answer the question no-1, 2.
Mother Teresa was moved by the sight of the sick and dying on the streets of Kolkata. She founded a home for the dying destitute and named it 'Nirmal Hriday', meaning 'Pure Heart'. She and her fellow nuns brought the dying people off the streets of Kolkata to this home. They were lovingly looked after and cared for. Since then many men, women and children have been taken from the streets and carried to Nirmal Hriday. These unloved and uncared for people get an opportunity to die in an environment of kindness and love. In their last hours they get human and divine love, and can feel they are also children of God. The Missionaries of Charity try to find jobs for those who survive, or send them to homes where they can live happily for some more years in a caring environment. Regarding commitment to family, Mother Teresa said, "Maybe in our own family, we have somebody, who is feeling lonely, who is feeling sick, who is feeling worried. Are we there? Are we willing to give until it hurts in order to be with our families, or do we put our interest first? We must remember that love begins at home and we must also remember that the future of humanity passes through the family".
Mother Teresa's work has been recognised throughout the world and she received a number of awards. These include the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971), the Nehru Prize for Promotion of International Peace & Understanding (1972), the Balzan Prize (1978), the Nobel Peace Prize (1979) and the Bharat Ratna (1980).
Mother Teresa died at the age of 87, on 5 September 1997.The world salutes her for her love and compassion for humanity. She has taught us how to extend our hand towards those who need our love and support irrespective of creed, caste and religion. The picture of Mother Teresa draped in a white and blue-bordered saree, with a wrinkled face, ever soft eyes and a saintly smile, lives on in our mind.
1. Choose the best answer from the alternatives.
(a) What does the phrase ‘Missionaries of Charity’ mean?
i. the donating preachers
ii. the preachers iii. the donors
iv. all the answers are correct
(b) Mother Teresa was recognized --.
i. in our country only
ii. throughout the world
iii. in India only
iv. in Asian continent only
(c) What were the uncared people given?
i. an environment of peaceful death
ii. full medicine
iii. job opportunity
iv. an opportunity to get jobs
(d) -— moved Mother Teresa.
i. The condition of working people on the streets
ii. The condition of dying people in her home
iii. The condition of ailing people on the streets
iv. The condition of sick people in the world
(e) Mother Teresa is a symbol of ---.
i. love and beauty
ii. kindness and honesty
iii. love and kindness
iv. cruelty and jealousy
(f) The word ‘divine’ means ---.
i. worldly ii. social
iii. heavenly iv. personal
(g) Mother Teresa smiled ---.
i. falsely ii. sacredly
iii. sinfully iv. impiously
Answer: 1. (a) i. the donating preachers, (b) ii. throughout the world, (c) i. an environment of peaceful death, (d) iii. The condition of ailing people on the streets, (e) iii. love and kindness, (f) iii. heavenly, (g) ii. sacredly.
2. Answer the following questions in your own words.
(a) Why does the world salute her?
(b) For what purpose did Mother Teresa establish "Nirmal Hriday”?
(c) Why did Mother Teresa emphasize on family?
Answer: 2. (a) The world salutes her for her love and compassion for humanity.
(b) Mother Teresa established 'Nirmal Hridoy' to look after the dying people in the streets of Kolkata and care for them.
(c) Mother Teresa knew the fact that a family is a primary social institution where people live. If happiness does not exist at this root, the chance of getting happiness on the part of any person is rare. As it is also known that charity begins at home, Mother Teresa emphasized on family.
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