Maharashtra Board Class 10 English Kumarbharti Unit One Chapter 1.6 The Alchemy of Nature PDF Download

1.6 The Alchemy Of Nature

Warming Up!

1. Rearrange the good qualities in each set, so that the first letter of each of the words should make a meaningful word. Join the sets and get message.

Set 1 Understanding/Adaptable/Tolerant/Neat/Encouraging Resourceful.

The word is _____________________

Set 2 Selfless/Inspiring

The word is _____________________

Set 3 Youthful/Modest

The word is _____________________

Set 4 Affectionate/Compassionate/Empathetic/Earnest/Honest/Reliable/Trustworthy

The word is _____________________

The message is _____________________________ _____________________________

______________________________ _______________________________ _____________________________

2. Various aspects of Nature have special features that make them differ from one another.

For example, Birds: appearance, shape, colour, size, food habits, habitat, sound etc.

Write such special features of each of the following.

Land _____________________ _____________________ _____________________

Water _____________________ _____________________ _____________________

Trees _____________________ _____________________ _____________________

Animals _____________________ _____________________ _____________________

Insects _____________________ _____________________ _____________________

3. Make a list of living creatures in the alphabetical order. You can write more than one beginning with the same letter.

A ____________________ K ____________________ U ____________________

B ____________________ L ____________________ V ____________________

C ____________________ M ____________________ W ____________________

D ____________________ N ____________________ Y ____________________

E ____________________ O ____________________ Z ____________________

F ____________________ P ____________________

G ____________________ Q ____________________

H ____________________ R ____________________

I ____________________ S ____________________

J ____________________ T ____________________

Teacher's Note

Nature teaches us many lessons every day. For example, if you watch a tiny ant carrying food, you learn about hard work.

Exam Trick

Remember: Nature is like your mother. It teaches you everything if you watch it carefully.

Points To Remember

Nature has many special features and qualities.
Different animals and plants look and act different from each other.
We can learn good things from watching nature.
Small things in nature can teach us big lessons.
Nature helps us in many ways every day.

Alchemy Of Nature

To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour
- William Blake

Something, as tiny as a grain of sand, can spark off an idea or imagination of a huge significance to the world. One can witness and experience the beauty of Heaven in something as small as wild flower and derive joy forever. Only one should have the eyes and time to see it. Infinity is endless space; but your small palm can hold the destiny of earth through your efforts. Eternity is endless time; but just an hour in your life can make a difference to the world forever.

(Great deeds can surpass the limits of time and space. They never die.)

We instinctively turn to outdoor activities and nature as a way of relaxing and enhancing our wellbeing. Nature soothes and nurtures. Nature fulfils and motivates. Nature whispers and commands. Are you listening?

When I do, it leaves me in complete awe.

We have a hibiscus plant in our garden. Every fortnight a flower blooms on it-big, bright and tender. Through the day it smiles with the sun and dances with the wind, but as evening approaches, it starts wilting. The morning after, it withers completely and by evening it falls and becomes one with the earth again. The flower comes to life only for a day, yet it does so in full splendour. What if we too lived our life, however short, to its fullest?

We went to a rocky beach and saw the spread of the majestic ocean and the rocks alongside, carved, sculpted and shaped by the water. Water is so gentle, rock so hard, yet, as the water flows over it every day, for years, the rock gives in. It takes the shape that the water commands. Our problems are so colossal and we are so small, yet if we persist...

Teacher's Note

Water is soft but it can break hard rocks over time. This teaches us that patience and steady effort always win.

Exam Trick

Remember: Water is weak but powerful. Like a small habit that becomes big over time.

Points To Remember

A small grain of sand can spark a big idea.
Nature soothes, nurtures, and motivates us.
A hibiscus flower teaches us to live life fully even if it is short.
Water is soft but can shape hard rocks over time.
Patience and steady effort can solve all problems.

We saw small bits of grass peeping through the small cracks in a concrete pavement. It left us thinking: however impossible things may look, there is always an opening...

We saw a tree bare of all leaves in the cold winter months. We thought its chapter was over. But three months passed, spring set in and the tree was back to its green majesty once again, full of leaves, flowers, birds and life. What if we too had the conviction that, however difficult things are right now, it will not remain so for ever. Remember, this too shall pass.

We saw an army of ants lugging a fly which was at least ten times the ant's size. The ants organized themselves around the fly, lifted it on frail feelers and carried it to quite a distance. Their teamwork and perseverance were impressive. What if we too are consistent, organized, focused...Spider webs are delicate, yet very strong. A rainbow colours the entire sky. Oysters take in a grain of sand they open up with a pearl. Innumerable stars shine across the infinite sky. Clouds take new shapes with every passing moment. The wind makes trees dance with unhindered passion. Water, without hint of ego, changes its form according to the dictates of the sun and the wind. When we see a caterpillar turn into a butterfly, a flower turn into a fruit, we experience the alchemy of nature... we touch it and become gold ourselves.

- Raksha Bharadia

Alchemy: An ancient forerunner of Chemistry, about attempts to convert base metals into gold. (Here, it refers to a mysterious, magical process of transforming things.)

Teacher's Note

Nature shows us magic everywhere. Like when a caterpillar becomes a butterfly, we too can change and become better.

Exam Trick

Remember: Alchemy of nature means nature's magic power to change things. Caterpillar to butterfly is a perfect example.

Points To Remember

Grass can grow through concrete and show that nothing is impossible.
Trees lose leaves in winter but become green again in spring - hard times don't last forever.
Ants work as a team and can carry things much bigger than themselves.
Spider webs are delicate but very strong.
Nature transforms things in magical ways - this is the alchemy of nature.

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